John Huston

The photograph series of the John Huston papers spans the years 1920–1985 and encompasses 4 linear feet. The series consists of 3,468 items, including black-and-white and color prints, negatives, slides, transparencies, and contact sheets, as well as oversize photographs. The photographs are grouped into motion picture production photographs and subject photographs.

The motion picture production photographs span the years 1941–1985 and consist of scene, off-camera, and premiere photographs and contact sheets. While most of the photographs are in 8x10 format, there is also a considerable amount of oversize material. The material is arranged alphabetically by film title, and 32 titles are represented. The largest holdings are on The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958), The Misfits (1961), and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). Almost all the films were directed by Huston, the exceptions being those in which he appeared as an actor only: The Cardinal (1963), the short Circasia (1966), and Winter Kills (1979).

The subject photographs span the years 1921–1979 and include the following subseries: biography; family, friends and associates; general; parties and balls; portraits; residences; trips; and unidentified.

The biography photographs, which span Huston’s adult life, consist of photographs taken in various private moments not directly associated with specific productions and feature Huston with other notables in his sphere. Among those depicted with Mr. Huston are Lauren Bacall, Ernest Hemingway, Sophia Loren, Orson Welles, and William Wyler.

The family, friends, and associates photographs also depict people directly involved with Huston throughout his career and in his family life, but, unlike the biography photographs, rarely include images of Huston himself.

The general photographs document Huston and elements of his life not directly related to his feature film work. Of special interest are those photographs related to his World War II service and his horses.

Residence photographs of note are the numerous color slides and transparencies of Huston’s house at St Cleran’s, Ireland.

Huston’s travel photographs are those taken on vacations and other trips, sometimes for the purpose of location scouting. Most of these are small prints. Of special note are the photographs taken on his 1955 trip to India.

Gift of John Huston, 1981.