Set of eight lobby cards for the film “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947)
Extent and Medium
.1: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.2: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.3: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.4: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.5: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.6: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.7: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.8: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
Creator(s)
- 20th Century Fox (Distributor)
- 20th Century Fox (Production Company)
- Ken Sutak (Compiler)
Biographical History
The Cinema Judaica Collection consists of more than 1,200 objects relating to films about World War II and the Holocaust as well as Jewish, Israeli, and biblical subjects, from 1923 to 2000, from the United States, Europe, Israel, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina. The collection was amassed by film memorabilia collector Ken Sutak, to document Holocaust-and Jewish-themed movies of the World War II era and the postwar years. The collection includes posters, lobby and photo cards, scene stills, pressbooks, trade ads, programs, magazines, books, VHS tapes, DVDS, and 78 rpm records. Sutak organized these materials into two groups, “Cinema Judaica: The War Years, 1939–1949” and “Cinema Judaica: The Epic Cycle, 1950–1972” and, in conjunction with the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum (now the Dr. Bernard Heller Museum in New York), organized exhibitions on these two themes in 2007 and 2008. Sutak subsequently authored companion books with the same titles.
Archival History
The lobby cards were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Ken Sutak and Sherri Venokur.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Ken Sutak and Sherri Venokur
Scope and Content
Set of eight lobby cards for the film, “Gentleman’s Agreement,” premiered by 20th Century Fox on November 11, 1947. Lobby cards are promotional materials placed in theater lobby windows to highlight specific movie scenes, rather than the broader themes often depicted on posters. The film was based on a story written by Laura Z. Hobson, which was serialized from 1946-1947 and published in a stand-alone novel in 1947. “Gentleman’s Agreement” was nominated for eight Academy Awards, and beat RKO’s similarly themed film, “Crossfire” to win Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director. The film also won four Golden Globes and was added to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress in 2017. “Gentleman’s Agreement” tells the story of a journalist who pretends to be Jewish so he can write an in-depth story about antisemitism. He immediately begins to see the rooted antisemitism on all sides, from colleagues at his office, to interactions with a physician, and even at a hotel. As the ruse continues, a rift grows between the journalist and his fiancée, who is reluctant to speak out against antisemitic comments in her social circle. Prior to production, some Jewish executives in Hollywood feared that the film would actually incite more antisemitism. The film proved to be daring for its time, calling out openly antisemitic politicians and other public figures. It also forced the audience to come to terms with their own underlying views and actions, both overt and subtle. This object is one of more than 1,200 objects in the Cinema Judaica Collection of materials related to films about World War II and the Holocaust as well as Jewish, Israeli, and biblical themes.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Restrictions on use. Copyright status is unknown.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
.1 Lobby card with a large photographic image of a scene still printed on rectangular off-white paper, and a narrow, white margin on all four sides. The image depicts two men and a woman, standing at a desk inside an office with green walls. A tall man on the right, wearing a brown hat, overcoat, and green tie, is examining the contents of a briefcase, which he has propped on top of the desk in front of him. The blonde woman in the center is wearing a dark blue dress, and looking at the tall man while holding a stack of papers in her hands. On the far left, a shorter man is wearing a blue suit, bowtie, and glasses. He is looking over the woman’s shoulder, and reading the papers she is holding. Inset in the bottom right corner is a black-and-white rectangle with a narrow, white outline, containing the film credits and cast in yellow, blue, and green text. Overlaying the right side of the rectangle is an illustration of the book that the film is based on. Copyright and printing information is printed in the bottom margin in blue. A price is handwritten in the upper left corner. The bottom right corner is torn off. There are small tears along all of the edges and pinholes in the top margin. There is dried adhesive residue around the back edges. Depicted: Celeste Holm as Anne Dettrey, Gregory Peck as Philip Schuyler Green, Curt Conway as Bert McAnny .2 Lobby card with a large photographic image of a scene still printed on rectangular off-white paper, and a narrow, white margin on all four sides. The image depicts a scene inside a restaurant, with four men and a woman. On the left, a tall man in a brown suit and a shorter man in a brown, US military uniform are standing, fists clenched, as they stare at the men on the right. In front of them, seated at a table and looking over her left shoulder, is a blonde woman wearing a dark red hairpiece and a fur wrap. On the right, a man in a blue suit is standing in left profile, his hands raised to straighten his tie. Holding onto his arm is another man, wearing a gray suit and looking at the two men on the left. Inset in the bottom right corner is a black-and-white rectangle with a narrow white outline, containing the film credits and cast in yellow, blue, and green text. Overlaying the right side of the rectangle is an illustration of the book that the film is based on. Copyright and printing information is printed in the bottom margin in blue. On the back, there is a red handstamp in the center and two pieces of brown tape. There are small pinholes in the corners and tears along the edges. Depicted: Celeste Holm as Anne Dettrey, Gregory Peck as Philip Schuyler Green, John Garfield as Dave Goldman, others unidentified. .3 Lobby card with a large photographic image of a scene still printed on rectangular off-white paper, and a narrow, white margin on all four sides. The image depicts a scene inside an entryway with a man, a woman, and small boy. On the right, the man is standing, wearing a gray suit, head bent forward to look down at the boy. On the left, a woman in a green blouse, her hair pinned-up, is kneeling and hugging a small boy, while looking him in the eyes. The boy is wearing a blue, plaid shirt, has shaggy hair, and has his left hand resting on the woman’s arm. In the background is a dark framed mirror hanging on a light blue wall. Inset in the bottom right corner is a black-and-white rectangle with a narrow white outline, containing the film credits and cast in yellow, blue, and green text. Overlaying the right side of the rectangle is an illustration of the book that the film is based on. Copyright and printing information is printed in the bottom margin in blue. The back is stained ink transfer from another image and has a black handstamp in the bottom right corner. The bottom right corner of the card is bent, there are tears on the edges, and pinholes in the margins. Depicted: Dorothy McGuire as Kathy Lacy, Dean Stockwell as Tommy Green, Gregory Peck as Philip Schuyler Green .4 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a yellow background and a narrow, white margin on all four sides. On the left side is an illustration of a blue book, which has the names of the producer and principal cast in white on the cover. Images of the actors’ faces appear on the white edges of the pages. The book is partially overlaying a red oval outlined in black that contains the film title in black text. Layered beneath both the oval and book is rectangular band, containing two sepia-toned scene stills from the film. Below the band are additional cast names and credits printed in green on the yellow background. Copyright and printing information are printed in the bottom margin in blue. The edges of the card are uneven, have small tears throughout, and are edged with strips of adhesive residue, likely from tape. The back of the card has heavy ink transfer from another image. Depicted: Gregory Peck as Philip Schuyler Green, Dorothy McGuire as Kathy Lacy, John Garfield as Dave Goldman, Celeste Holm as Anne Dettrey, others unidentified. .5 Lobby card with a large photographic image of a scene still printed on rectangular off-white paper, and a narrow, white margin on all four sides. The image depicts a man and woman from the waist up, inside a home with light blue walls, and a painting hanging in the background. The woman and a taller man are embracing and looking each other in the eye. She has pinned her hair up and is wearing a green blouse, while he is wearing a brown suit. Inset in the bottom right corner is a black-and-white rectangle with a narrow white outline, containing the film credits and cast in yellow, blue, and green text. Overlaying the right side of the rectangle is an illustration of the book that the film is based on. Copyright and printing information is printed in the bottom margin in blue. The back of the card has ink transfer from another image and a label handwritten in the bottom left corner. There are pinholes in the image’s upper center and small brown stains in the lower margin. Depicted: Dorothy McGuire as Kathy Lacy, Gregory Peck as Philip Schuyler Green .6 Lobby card with a large photographic image of a scene still printed on rectangular off-white paper, and a narrow, white margin on all four sides. The image depicts a scene inside a home. On the left, a tall man in a dark suit is standing, holding a white telephone receiver to his ear. Next to him is a woman with pinned hairstyle, wearing a white blouse and dark red skirt. She is standing in left profile, looking up at him while holding onto his arm. On the right side of the card, a shorter man in a brown, US military uniform is standing with his back to a door and holding a cigarette in one hand. Next to him, a blonde woman wearing a black dress is leaning against the open, door jamb, while holding a cigarette in one hand. Inset in the bottom right corner is a black-and-white rectangle with a narrow white outline, containing the film credits and cast in yellow, blue, and green text. Overlaying the right side of the rectangle is an illustration of the book that the film is based on. Copyright and printing information is printed in the bottom margin in blue. The edges are stained and discolored throughout. The back bears ink transfer from another image and a handwritten inscription. Depicted: Gregory Peck as Philip Schuyler Green, Dorothy McGuire as Kathy Lacy, Celeste Holm as Anne Dettrey, John Garfield as Dave Goldman .7 Lobby card with a large photographic image of a scene still printed on rectangular off-white paper, and a narrow, white margin on all four sides. The image depicts a scene inside a bar and lounge. On the left is a woman in a white blouse and dark red skirt, sitting sideways on a purple loveseat and looking at four people who are standing at the opposite end. The man standing on the far left is older, with gray hair, and is wearing a gray suit. Next to him are two younger men, one in a brown suit and the other in a dark blue suit. On the far right is an older woman wearing a short-sleeved, black dress with a white brooch on one shoulder. In the background, framed by tasseled curtains, is a doorway opening to a bar, where there are three people sitting in front of the bartender. Inset in the bottom right corner is a black-and-white rectangle with a narrow white outline, containing the film credits and cast in yellow, blue, and green text. Overlaying the right side of the rectangle is an illustration of the book that the film is based on. Copyright and printing information is printed in the bottom margin in blue. The top right corner has been torn off and there are some small surface losses. On the back, there is dried adhesive around the edges, and a dark blue handstamp in the bottom right corner. Depicted Dorothy McGuire as Kathy Lacy, Albert Dekker as John Minify, Gregory Peck as Philip Schuyler Green, Kathleen Lockhart as Mrs. Jessie Minify, others unidentified .8 Lobby card with a large photographic image of a scene still printed on rectangular off-white paper, and a narrow, white margin on all four sides. The image depicts two men and a woman inside a kitchen, with cabinets and a green-toned wall in the background. On the left, the woman is standing in right profile, wearing a white apron over a short-sleeved green blouse. She has her hands cupped in front of her and is gazing downwards, not looking at the man standing very close to her. The man is wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a short black tie as he stares down at her. On the right side of the card a man wearing a khaki-colored, uniform shirt and tie perches on the edge of a table while looking at the woman. Inset in the bottom right corner is a black-and-white rectangle with a narrow white outline, containing the film credits and cast in yellow, blue, and green text. Overlaying the right side of the rectangle is an illustration of the book that the film is based on. Copyright and printing information is printed in the bottom margin in blue. Ink from the front of the card has bled-through to the back, and the edges are stained and discolored throughout. Gregory Peck as Philip Schuyler Green, Dorothy McGuire as Kathy Lacy, John Garfield as Dave Goldman
.1 front, top left margin, handwritten, pencil : $20. .1 back, top left, handwritten, pencil : $35.00 .1 back, bottom right, stamped, blue ink : PROPERTY OF N.[S.S. CORP.] / MAY BE DISTRIBUTED ONLY BY / POSTER COMPANIES / DULY LICENSED BY N.S.S. CORP. / 12 .2 back, center, stamped, red ink : THEATRE POSTER EXCHANGE, INC. / 184 E. CALHOUN ST. / MEMPHIS, TENN .3 back, bottom right corner, stamped, black ink : PROPERTY OF N.S.S. CORP. / MAY BE DISTRIBUTED ONLY BY / POSTER COMPANIES / DULY LICENSED BY N.S.S. CORP. / 12 .6 back, bottom left corner, handwritten, pencil : gentlemans [sic] agreement LC 2PS / “ “ LC2 / $100 .7 back, bottom right corner, stamped, blue ink : PROPERTY OF N.S.S. CORP. / MAY BE DISTRIBUTED ONLY BY / POSTER COMPANIES / DULY LICENSED BY N.S.S. CORP. / 12
People
- Dekker, Albert, 1905-1968.
- Garfield, John.
- Holm, Celeste, 1917-2012.
- Kazan, Elia.
- McGuire, Dorothy, 1918-2001.
- Stockwell, Dean, 1938-
- Peck, Gregory, 1916-2003.
Subjects
- Women in motion pictures.
- Jews in motion pictures.
- Discrimination in motion pictures.
- Antisemitism in motion pictures.
- Film adaptations.
- United States.
- Marginality, Social, in motion pictures.
Genre
- Object
- Display cards.
- Posters