The Lewis Gilbert Film Script and Production Archive Auction

Bellmans Fine Art Auctioneers will auction The Lewis Gilbert Film Script and Production Archive on Tuesday, 16th November 2021 as part of The Lewis & Hylda Gilbert Collection.

Lewis Gilbert on set of The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977

Film Director Lewis Gilbert (1920-2018) made more than 40 films during a directorial career spanning six decades, including three James Bond movies - You Only Live Twice (1967), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979). He had his international breakthrough with Alfie (1966), which also launched Michael Caine's international career. Later successes such as Educating Rita (1983) and Shirley Valentine (1989) further displayed the prodigious talent and cemented the colossal reputation of Lewis Gilbert.

Lewis Gilbert on set of You Only Live Twice, 1967

Lewis Gilbert was married to his wife Hylda (1919-2005) for 53 years. Born into an antique dealer's family, Hylda had a career in modelling, but as a theatre lover she was often involved in spotting potential future films and was a most supportive, elegant film director's wife. Lewis Gilbert was very much a gentleman film director and a family man, and stayed close friends with his actors, especially sharing a sense of humour with Roger Moore.

Lewis Gilbert and his wife Hylda at the premiere of You Only Live Twice, 1967

The Lewis Gilbert Film Script and Production Archive

The Lewis Gilbert Film Archive is the first substantial archive associated with a British film director to come up for public auction. Spanning over 40 years of diverse British film classics from one much accoladed director, it embraces several landmarks in British culture and cinema history. The collection largely focuses on Gilbert's major commercial triumphs: Alfie (1966); his three Bond titles: You Only Live Twice (1967), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979); also Educating Rita (1983) and Shirley Valentine (1989).

A selection of lots covering the three James Bond movies directed by Lewis Gilbert

It includes Gilbert’s personal scripts, at various stages of a production’s development; also correspondence, agreements, press material, some storyboards, stills, contact sheets, snap-shots, premier programmes and a wealth of associated ephemera.

Cubby Broccoli, Roger Moore, Lois Chiles and Lewis Gilbert, Moonraker, 1979

The archive also features related lots for the much-loved and multi award winning films Alfie (1966), with Michael Caine and Jane Asher and Educating Rita (1983) also with Michael Caine and with Julie Walters as well as various mixed lots relating to some of Lewis Gilbert's earlier films, such as Reach For The Skies (1956), Carve Her Name With Pride (1958) and Sink The Bismark (1960).

The Gilbert Collection auctions are spread out over multiple days:

16 November 2021: The Lewis & Hylda Gilbert Collection of Furniture and Works of Art, 10am

16 November 2021 | The Lewis Gilbert Collection Film Script and Production Archive, at 5pm

18 November 2021 | Asian Ceramics and Works of Art, including items from the The Lewis & Hylda Gilbert Collection, 10am

18 November 2021 | Silver, including items from the The Lewis & Hylda Gilbert Collection, 1pm

For more information and auction highlight details, visit the Bellmans website.