Nov 5, 2025 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
52
Beckett watches Buster Keaton from the rafters in his only film
Collection of American Theater Director Alan Schneider (1917-1984)
[SAMUEL BECKETT]
Production photograph from the making of Film, 1964. Gelatin silver print, 19½ x 13½ inches. Together with a framed award from the 1965 London Film Festival, presented to Alan Schneider for Film, dampstain to foot; And an early printing of Film. New York: Grove Press, [1969]. Also offered with two DVDs of Film (1965) and the documentary Notfilm (2016).
Provenance: Collection of Alan Schneider (1917-1984); Following the death of Alan Schneider in 1984, these materials were retained by Schneider’s widow, Eugenie Schneider, who died in the summer of 2025 at 101 years old.
A photograph showing Buster Keaton, Alan Schneider, and Samuel Beckett at work on Film. In 1964, Beckett traveled to New York City for the filming of Film, his only entry into cinema. Film stars Buster Keaton, wearing his signature pork-pie hat, his slapstick comedy transposed perfectly onto a Beckettian scenario. Opinions differ as to how much Keaton enjoyed or understood Beckett's vision, but all accounts of filming Film paint a picture of Keaton as a consummate professional.
In his essay "On Directing Film," included in the Grove Press edition of the screenplay, Alan Schneider remembers Beckett's presence on the set with Keaton: "[Beckett] was always there and watching from above the set, unobtrusive but dominant, always eager to answer or to look through the camera, or help with a move. I used to look up at him as he sat there for hours, motionless and intent, his elbows akimbo on the light rail, staring down at us through his spectacles like some wise old owl contemplating with interested but detached equanimity a bunch of frantic beavers building some nonsensical mud-stick dam." Sure enough, this photograph captures Beckett high above the set, looking down in exactly that attitude.
Sold for $224
Estimated at $300 - $500
Includes Buyer's Premium
Collection of American Theater Director Alan Schneider (1917-1984)
[SAMUEL BECKETT]
Production photograph from the making of Film, 1964. Gelatin silver print, 19½ x 13½ inches. Together with a framed award from the 1965 London Film Festival, presented to Alan Schneider for Film, dampstain to foot; And an early printing of Film. New York: Grove Press, [1969]. Also offered with two DVDs of Film (1965) and the documentary Notfilm (2016).
Provenance: Collection of Alan Schneider (1917-1984); Following the death of Alan Schneider in 1984, these materials were retained by Schneider’s widow, Eugenie Schneider, who died in the summer of 2025 at 101 years old.
A photograph showing Buster Keaton, Alan Schneider, and Samuel Beckett at work on Film. In 1964, Beckett traveled to New York City for the filming of Film, his only entry into cinema. Film stars Buster Keaton, wearing his signature pork-pie hat, his slapstick comedy transposed perfectly onto a Beckettian scenario. Opinions differ as to how much Keaton enjoyed or understood Beckett's vision, but all accounts of filming Film paint a picture of Keaton as a consummate professional.
In his essay "On Directing Film," included in the Grove Press edition of the screenplay, Alan Schneider remembers Beckett's presence on the set with Keaton: "[Beckett] was always there and watching from above the set, unobtrusive but dominant, always eager to answer or to look through the camera, or help with a move. I used to look up at him as he sat there for hours, motionless and intent, his elbows akimbo on the light rail, staring down at us through his spectacles like some wise old owl contemplating with interested but detached equanimity a bunch of frantic beavers building some nonsensical mud-stick dam." Sure enough, this photograph captures Beckett high above the set, looking down in exactly that attitude.
Auction: Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Nov 5, 2025
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Popular Stage & Screen Auction on November 5, 2025 Attracted Global Audience
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Memorabilia, Autographs, Artwork & Photographs Celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance
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Archive of Samuel Beckett Material from the Estate of His American Director Alan Schneider Topped $75,000
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Sale Featured a Special Section Devoted to the Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's popular Stage & Screen auction on November 5, 2025 attracted fans and collectors around the world vying for an exciting range of offerings celebrating the performing arts of Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance.
The Estate of Alan Schneider
Featured in the sale was fascinating collection of early Waiting for Godot material from the Estate of Alan Schneider that topped $75,000 amid trans-Atlantic competition. “The primary American director of Samuel Beckett plays” and a close friend of the playwright, Alan Schneider died in 1984, and his widow died at 101 this past summer. This remarkable archive offered an extraordinary glimpse into the creative partnership between Schneider and Beckett, spanning decades of groundbreaking theatrical work. Highlights included Schneider’s annotated working copy of Waiting for Godot used in the landmark American production, an inscribed typescript of Eh Joe, and first editions and presentation copies of Endgame and Happy Days, many personally inscribed to Schneider by Beckett. Other treasures included manuscripts, letters, awards, recordings and posters that document a pivotal collaboration in modern theater history. Read more
The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Doyle was honored to offer a sequel to the successful 2011 auction of property from the estate of the legendary actor. Featured in the sale were artwork, furniture, photographs and memorabilia. Read More.
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