24218

Personal Effects of Geraldine Page

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia Start Price:140.00 USD Estimated At:560.00 - 840.00 USD
Personal Effects of Geraldine Page
<B>Personal Effects of Geraldine Page, James Dean's Co-star in Broadway's "The Immoralist," Including her Annotated Script, Playbill, Telegram and Letters Related to Dean, 8 x 10 Photo of Dean, Magazines Devoted to Him, Also Material on her Career - One Large Lot.</B></I> When F. Murray Abraham announced the Best Actress Oscar winner of 1985, he said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I consider this woman the greatest actress in the English language." She was, of course, Geraldine Page (1924-1987), who won her Academy Award (her eighth nomination) for <I>The Trip to Bountiful.</B></I> She was also known as "The First Lady of the Theater," via her brilliant stage performances, such as the ferocious Alexandra in <I>Sweet Bird of Youth</B></I> (a role she reprised in the 1962 movie version). In 1954, she starred in the Broadway play <I>The Immoralist,</B></I> in which she played a tormented soul whose misery is compounded by an evil Arab houseboy, played by James Dean. The two brilliant performers became close and trusted friends (see the Dean art work he gave Page, lots 24151 through 24165) and she saved a remarkable file on Dean -- which the James Dean Museum in Fairmount, Indiana acquired from Page's daughter. Geraldine Page's James Dean collection is incredible: her script for <I>The Immoralist</B></I> (incomplete, with her annotations), her copy of the playbill, an offstage snapshot of Jimmy in tux and glasses, an 8 x 10 of Dean, copies of the New York reviews of the play, a condolence telegram to her from a friend after Dean's death ("...I know how attached you were to him..."), seven contact prints from the play (none with Dean), letters from The James Dean Memorial Foundation (inviting her to serve on the Board of Advisors), a 1967 letter from the James Dean Memory Club, a postcard of Jimmy, and a white banner with gold lettering attached -- made by Page and reading "James Dean Foundation." Also in the file is an envelope, on which Page wrote, "Please save these masterpieces for me by Mr. James Dean...," referring to the aforementioned drawings. There's an entire second file of magazine clippings, including the entire issue of <I>Look</B></I> , October 16, 1956, with its Dean cover story, and a photocopy of <I>Life</B></I> magazine story "Moody New Star" (March 17, 1955). A bonus feature: Page's annotated script for the play <I>Master Pierre Patelin.</B></I> Condition of material varies -- certainly at least averaging Very Fine. The fact that Geraldine Page saved this material for over 30 years after Dean's death, and until her own, speaks volumes about her respect and affection for him. This is a wonderful tribute to James Dean, from the personal files of one of America's greatest all-time actresses. <I>From the James Dean Museum archive. With COA from David Loehr.</B></I>