Hal Wallis papers
Special Collections
Margaret Herrick Library
© 2013
Title: Hal Wallis papers
Date (inclusive): 1900-1982
Date (bulk): 1945-1979
Collection number: 404
Creator:
Wallis, Hal
Extent:
127 linear feet of papers.
4.3 linear feet of photographs.
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
English
Important Information for Users of the Collection
Available by appointment only.
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.
Hal Wallis papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Gift of Hal B. Wallis, the Hal Wallis Foundation, and bequest of the Hal Wallis estate, 1985-1994
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.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
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.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series: 1. Production files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Produced; B.
Unproduced; 2. Subject files; 3. Personal papers; 4. Oversize; 5. Scrapbooks; 6. Photographs, subseries
A-B as follows: A. Motion picture production; B. Subject
Wallis, Hal B. (Harold Brent) , 1898-1986--Archives
producers