Qui êtes-vous, Monsieur Sorge?

Yves Ciampi (director, screenwriter)
Jean Jungmann, Charles Andre (photographers)
Tsutomu Sawamura (screenwriter)
Thomas Holtzmann, Keiko Kishi, Mario Adorf, Nadine Basile (starring)

Paris: Cinedis, 1961. Collection of 18 original single weight press photographs from a gala surrounding the 1961 French-Italian-West German-Japanese film. Most of the photos represent actress Kishi, here as "Kiski," in kimono, and director Ciampi, on-stage behind a microphone and signing autographs, presumably at the French premiere. Several photographs are rubber-stamped on the versos, crediting photographer Jungmann or Andre, also for Bar-le-Duc. Also included are a few leaves documenting travel expenses and locations associated with the film, and a memo mentioning Kishi's travels, signed by "F. Willkomm" at Cinedis, the film's distribution company, addressed to Maryse Martres, dated May 29, 1961. All photos and memo housed in original mailing envelopes with annotations in manuscript ink on the recto of the larger.

Little is known of Willkomm, but Martres (Martin) was a prolific French actress since 1948, notably "Girl on the Third Floor" (1955) and "The Happy Road" (1957), and she was later involved in press relations at Cinedis, a notable film agency in operation since the Silent Film era. Kishi was born in 1932 and became a Japanese actress and writer. She married director Ciampi in 1957. Since 1996 she has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Based on the true story of Richard Sorge, who was a spy for the USSR, working at the German Embassy in Japan between 1935 and 1943. Holtzman plays Sorge, and Kishi plays Yuki, presumably involved with Sorge romantically and within the workings of his spy ring. Sorge's story was adapted once more, "Spy Sorge (2003), a Japanese film directed by Masahiro Shinoda.

Photos range from 3.5 x 6 inches to 7 x 9 inches, several with white borders. Very Good plus overall, slight curling and light creasing. Envelopes, memo, and travel ephemera Very Good overall.


[Book #143969]