ORIGINAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPH OF FRANK CAPRA WILLIAM WYLER GEORGE STEVENS #150706

Description

Original press photograph of Frank Capra, William Wyler, George Stevens, and Samuel J. Briskin announcing the formation of Liberty Films
Author:
Capra, Frank, William Wyler, George Stevens, Samuel J. Briskin (subjects)
Title:
Original press photograph of Frank Capra, William Wyler, George Stevens, and Samuel J. Briskin announcing the formation of Liberty Films
Publication:
N.p. N.p., Circa 1945
Description:
Vintage press photograph of Frank Capra, William Wyler, George Stevens, and Samuel J. Briskin announcing the formation of the independent motion picture production company Liberty Films. French annotations in manuscript ink and pencil on verso.
Frank Capra, dissatisfied with the Hollywood studio system, had attempted to set up an independent production studio on three occasions, in 1939, forming Frank Capra Productions (which produced "Meet John Doe" [1941]), which dissolved when Capra joined the US Army Signal Corps in late 1941, and later during the war sought a partnership, unsuccessfully, with director Leo McCarey. In 1945 Capra teamed up with Samuel J. Briskin, then production chief at Columbia Pictures, and formed Liberty Films, and within a few months of incorporating, directors William Wyler and George Stevens joined as partners.
Liberty Films only ended up producing two films, both directed by Capra, the now classic "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), which at the time was a financial failure, and couldn't recoup its high production costs, and "State of the Union" (1948), which required Liberty Films to pay for use of MGM's production facilities as well as a percentage of the distribution fee, as the lead, Spencer Tracy, was under contract to MGM. Under threat of bank foreclosure, Liberty Films was purchased by Paramount Pictures in May, 1947.
10 x 8 inches. Very Good plus, with light creasing at a few of the white borders.
Seller ID:
150706
Subject:
1940s Cinema, Directors, Film Still Photographs, Hollywood, Independent Film, Photographs, Press Photographs
Royal Books
Baltimore, MD
Royal Books is located in the midtown area of Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1996, we have specialized in rare books and paper relating to twentieth century literature, genre fiction, the arts, and popular culture, with a particular emphasis on cinema.
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