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Collection Overview
 
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Description
The Hal Wallis papers span the years 1900-1982 (bulk 1945-1979) and encompass approximately 131.3 linear feet. The collection primarily documents Wallis's career as an independent producer at Paramount after he left Warner Bros. in 1944 to form Hal Wallis Productions. The collection consists of production files, including produced and unproduced films; correspondence; subject files; legal files; financial and real estate files; scrapbooks; and photographs. Seventy-five films are represented by production files. The photograph series consists of 5,667 items, including black-and-white and color photographic prints, black-and-white and color negatives, snapshots, postcards, color slides, contact sheets, group portraits, and frame enlargements. The motion picture production photographs span the years 1927-1975 and consist of scene, off-camera, color wardrobe reference, set reference, advertising art, frame enlargement, location research (color and black-and-white), color production design drawing, unidentified production, and premiere photographs. The biography photographs span from the 1920s to 1979 and consist of portraits, family photographs, group portraits, and snapshots. The subject photographs include awards, contract signings, parties, press conferences, residences, studio functions, and Wallis golfing and fishing.
Background
Hal B. Wallis was an American producer active in film production from around 1928 to 1975. From 1933 to 1944, Wallis was associate executive in charge of production at Warner Bros. In 1944 he set up an independent production company in partnership with Joseph H. Hazen to distribute through Paramount. He remained at Paramount until 1969. Wallis produced a number of films starring Elvis Presley. Married to the actress and comedienne Louise Fazenda from 1927 until her death in 1962, he subsequently wed actress Martha Hyer, to whom he remained married until his death. Wallis received the 1938 and 1943 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award and was nominated for producing best picture nominees THE ROSE TATTOO (1955), BECKET (1964), and ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS (1969). His production of CASABLANCA received an Oscar for best picture.
Extent
127 linear feet of papers. 4.3 linear feet of photographs.
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.
Availability
Available by appointment only.