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An original 8x10" vintage photo (NOT a modern reprint) from a large collection of hundreds of original movie photos acquired from a film business estate.
Photo Overview
Original 1987 color still from Merchant Ivory\'s Maurice, the acclaimed film adaptation of E. M. Forster\'s novel of forofferden love in Edwardian England. The image shows James Wilby as Maurice Hall and Rupert Graves as the gamekeeper Alec Scudder lying together in bed, framed by floral wallpaper, a brass bedstead, lace linens, and a period nightstand. It is one of the film\'s most intimate moments and captures the tenderness at the heart of the story.
The front carries the printed title panel reading Merchant Ivory Productions for Cinecom and Film Four International presents E. M. Forster\'s Maurice, with the title in red script. The reverse has a typed Concorde Film label. Concorde was the West German distributor of the film, so this still was issued for the German-language release. It comes from a large estate collection of original movie photos assembled by someone who worked in the film business, and should appeal to Merchant Ivory collectors, fans of Wilby and Graves, and collectors of landmark LGBT cinema.
Historical Notes
Forster wrote Maurice in 1913-14 but kept it private, and it was only published in 1971, after his death. The Merchant Ivory film, directed by James Ivory, premiered at the 1987 Venice Film Festival. James Wilby and Hugh Grant, who played Clive Durham, shared the Volpi Cup for Best Actor, and Ivory won the Silver Lion. Jenny Beavan and John Bright received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design. The film\'s happy ending for Maurice and Alec was unusual for its era, and it is now considered a milestone in gay cinema.
The cast went on to long careers. Hugh Grant became an international star, and Wilby returned to Merchant Ivory for Howards End before appearing in Gosford Park. Rupert Graves became widely known as Inspector Lestrade in Sherlock. Ivory later won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Call Me by Your Name. For the film\'s 30th anniversary in 2017, Maurice was restored in 4K and re-released in cinemas.
Text Present
Front, lower left printed panel:
MERCHANT IVORY PRODUCTIONS
for CINECOM and FILM FOUR INTERNATIONAL
presents
E. M. FORSTER\'S
Maurice
Back, typed label:
MAURICE
CONCORDE FILM
SETNR K FOTONR 03/08 FILMNR 927
(German for Set No. K, Photo No. 03/08, Film No. 927)
Print analysis
This is an original Type 1 color photographic print issued in 1987 for the German theatrical release by distributor Concorde Film. The typed distributor label on the back, with its set, photo and film numbers, is typical of German cinema display stills. The printed title panel on the front matches the original release design. Tape remnants at the back corners suggest it was mounted for display, which is consistent with period theatrical use.
Condition
In good to excellent vintage condition. Please see scans of the image we have provided for the most accurate and complete state of the photo. Some of the photos in this collection have tiny holes from staples in some of the corners from being displayed as part of a working set at a theater, so please check images.
