GANCE (Abel). - Lot 363

GANCE (Abel). 1889–1981. French filmmaker. 3 handwritten letters to Della Torre. Chateauneuf de Grasse, 1946–1947. 3 pp., in-4 format, with Abel Gance’s letterhead; annotations in graphite; document framed under glass. January 1946: Regarding the sale of his films to a production company in Buenos Aires. He tells his correspondent that for him this is “the greatest moral and commercial undertaking of modern times in the field of cinema,” emphasizing “the moral necessity facing humanity to have sufficient evidence to justify devoting all our efforts to such an endeavor.” December 1946: Following up on his letter from earlier in the year, Gance sends his proposals regarding his films, their versions, and the price. He mentions a potential buyer for his film “J’accuse.” December 1947: The filmmaker proposed a sale price for two of his iconic works to the Buenos Aires Production Company, lowering the fees he had previously set; “Mater Dolorosa” for 125,000 francs (initial price of 262,500 francs) and “Napoleon” for 350,000 francs instead of 525,000 francs.