Film Programs from Royal Books, Inc.

Beverly Hills, CA: United Artists, 1979. Vintage illustrated program for the 1979 film. Based on the 1954 novel by Ian Fleming. Lewis Gilbert's third and final directorial effort in the James Bond franchise, and the eleventh film in the series overall, hot on the trail of the wildly successful "Star Wars" (1977). Roger Moore stars in his fourth role as… Read more

New York: Filmarte, 1938. Vintage program for the US premiere of the 1937 French film, which opened at the Filmarte Theatre in New York on September 12, 1938. A disparate group of French soldiers plan an escape from their German captors during World War I. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of French cinema, a poignant look at nationalism, class… Read more

Hong Kong: Golden Harvest, 1971. Vintage program for the 1971 film, with a one page English language synopsis of the film, and rest of the text in Chinese. Photo-illustrated throughout in both color and black-and-white. Bruce Lee's first major film role, which instantly rocketed him to stardom throughout Southeast Asia, and one where he was originally to play a… Read more

Paris: Theatre Marigny, 1965. Original French program for the "20th Night of Cinema," here under the original French title. A lavish illustrated magazine, with blue cord marker, featuring full-page advertisements for motor car companies, cosmetics (notably the Coty line of perfume, Imprevu), alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, galleries, televisions, salons, and refrigerators, produced to coincide with the gala held at… Read more

Paris: W. Fischer, 1951. Original theatre program for the French play, "Guillaume le Confident" circa 1951. The play premiered at the Theatre de Paris, but little is written of the play or its synopsis, and is presumed to have been a comedy about former lovers. Most of the cast and crew were already featured in French films, notably Dux,… Read more

Rome: Cineriz, 1962. Original program for the Italian-French film, undated but issued upon the 1962 premiere. Unfolds to three panels of film synopsis and credits, and full-color film stills of Loren, Ekberg, Schneider and others. A four episode anthology exploring morality and love. Working-class lovers, Renzo and Luciana in a secret marriage (Solinas, Gilioli), a billboard of a blonde… Read more

Rome: Lux Film, 1961. Original Italian program for the 1961 film, here under the original Italian title, "Divorzio all'italiana." Illustrated throughout with black-and-white still photos from the film, full-color front wrapper fold-out art, and the program details a synopsis and cast and crew credits. Notations throughout in holograph ink, mostly amending certain words of the synopsis. Ferdinando (Mastroianni) is bored… Read more

Paris: Various, 1964. Collection of 19 original French programs for French, German, Italian, and Spanish films, with a single US film, here under the original French titles, 1946-1964. All feature color wrappers, some illustrated with color stills from the film, and highlights include "Madame du Barry" (1954, Christian-Jaque), "Madame Butterfly" (1954, Carmine Gallone), "Les Diaboliques" (1955, Henri-Georges Clouzot), US… Read more

Nice: Gaumont-Palace, 1961. Vintage French program, and two invitations, for the 1961 film, here under the original French titles. The collection both predates and postdates November 1, 1961, generally considered the original release. A small invitation "for two" doubles as a folding RSVP, for the October 17 showing at the Cyrano theatre in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, a Southwest France commune with… Read more

Paris: Gaumont, 1961. Original program for the 1961 French film, here under the original French title. Illustrated in red, black, and white, and stills from the film, with laid-in synopsis sheets featuring the "Fenouillard" family and oversize umbrella illustration on the rectos. Based on the 19th century French comic by Marie Louis Georges Colomb (Christophe), one of the earliest… Read more

Paris: Filmsonor / Mondex / Procinex, 1962. Original French program for the 1962 French-Italian film, here under the original French title, "Le diable et les 10 commandements." Illustrated wrappers featuring esoteric cartoons by Vaissier, with original glassine. Contents of the program include film credits, synopsis, actor biographies, and advertisement campaigns; often these programs are illustrated throughout with still photographs… Read more

Paris: Cinémato, 1959. Original French program for the 1959 Italian-French film, here under the original French title, "Nuits d'Europe." Lavish and compact, the program fits in a shirt pocket and unfolds to reveal four panels of bright primary colors, showcasing various performers seen in the film. An early "mondo" film, in keeping with what would become a predominantly Italian… Read more

Belgrade: Avala Film, 1967. Original program for the international release of the 1967 Yugoslav black wave film. Photo-illustrated with stills from the film and reproductions of line illustrations. Wrappers text in French, with French, German, Russian, Spanish, and English text inside. Taking on the trappings of American crime and film noir, about a woman who is murdered by her… Read more

New York: Cinema 5, 1972. Original American program for the 1969 French documentary film. A two-part film exploring collaboration and resistance to the Vichy government and Nazi Germany in the French town of Clermont-Ferrand. Nominated for an Academy Awards for Best Documentary. 7.5 x 11 inches, in self wrappers. Printed on newsprint. Near Fine with a shallow horizontal fold… Read more

Copenhagen: Palladium Films, 1965. Original English language program for the 1964 Danish film. Photo-illustrated with stills from the film. The great Danish director's final film, an adaptation of the 1906 play by Hjalmar Soderberg. 4.75 x 6 inches. Near Fine in in saddle stapled self wrappers. BFI 667. Criterion Collection 127. Rosenbaum 1000.

N.p.: N.p., 1974. Japanese program for the 1970 Danish film. Illustrated wrappers with photos from the film throughout, and with essays by director Jens Jorgen Thorsen and Country Joe (of Country Joe and the Fish), as well as a profile of Henry Miller, upon whose book the film is based. Text in Japanese (apart from the film title, which… Read more

Hollywood: Paramount Pictures, 1974. Original Japanese program for the US film "The Great Gatsby." Full color wrappers, with black and white text and black and white and full color photos throughout. Text in Japanese. The 1974 adaptation of Fitzgerald's classic 1925 novel has been praised for its lavish costumes and decadent set design. Coupled with an all star cast… Read more

Paris: Filmsonor, 1955. Original French program for the classic 1955 French film noir. This program produced by the film's distributor, Cinedis. With a stunning illustrated and textured front wrapper, making dazzling use of a two-color process in green-gray. Laid in are credits leaves featuring biographies on Henri-Georges Clouzot, Vera Clouzot, Simone Signoret, and Paul Meurisse. French text. Based on… Read more

Berlin: Universum Film [UFA] / L'Alliance Cinematographique Europeenne, 1938. Original French program for the French and German film "Un fichu metier." Three-color wrappers, with black and white photos and color text headers throughout. Text in French. A comedy in which a wayward crown prince is causing trouble for his kingdom (Vodenia), so a minister decides to replace him with… Read more

London: National Film Theatre, 1963. Collection of 29 monthly film programs from the London National Film Theatre, dating between 1957 and 1963. A large collection of programs from the early days of Britain's leading repertory cinema, including critical essays, synopses, and film schedules for varying seasons at the theatre, each program generally comprising a period of between one and… Read more