The Possessors [Les grandes familles ]

Paris: Filmsonor, Circa 1958. Collection of 288 vintage black-and-white still photographs for the 1958 French film. Housed in two quarto "Lavis aquarelle" brand spiral bound notebooks with maroon faux leather front wrapper and printed French titles affixed on the front wrappers, each photo with series number etched in the original film negative before development, mimeograph series number on the verso and credited to photographer M. Dole on the recto. Small "x" annotations on several pages. Each photo number noted on the page in manuscript ink.

Based on Maurice Druon's 1948 novel, the film stars Jean Gabin as the head of a wealthy French family, ruling his fortune and estate with an iron fist, and leaving little room for his heirs to prove worthy of the wealth. Photographer Dole was consistent if anything, a regular with directors de La Patelliere, Jean Delannoy and Gilles Grangier, and several Jean Gabin films.

Photographs 3.25 x 4.5 inches, mounted four to a page with cello tape on 9.25 x 12.75 inch leaves. Photos Near Fine overall, notebooks Very Good plus.

[Book #140515]