The Facts
MILLON dispersed the René Chateau film memorabilia collection across three auctions from April to October 2026, achieving a combined total of over €690,000. The first sale on April 9, 2026, featured a German poster for Fritz Lang's 'M' (1931), estimated at €4,000–6,000, that sold for €32,000—the highest price of all three sessions. Other top lots included a poster for Jean Renoir's 'La Grande Illusion' (1937) at €23,000, a poster for 'Bride of Frankenstein' (1935) at €21,000, and a René Péron-illustrated poster for 'King Kong' (1933) at €19,000. The second sale on June 26, 2026, focused on smaller-format posters and documentary materials, including a Belgian poster for Marcel Carné's 'Le Jour se lève' (1939) at €1,250 and a production album for Jacques Becker's 'Le Trou' with 98 photographs. The third and final sale on October 23, 2026, saw a French poster for Charlie Chaplin's 'The Kid' (1921), illustrated by Jean Carlu, sell for €28,000 against a €400–600 estimate, and a 1939 Cannes Film Festival poster by Jean-Gabriel Domergue realized €12,000.
The Signal
The René Chateau collection, built over decades by the film distributor and publisher, encompassed vintage movie posters, photographs, publicity materials, and archival documents spanning French classics to Hollywood productions. The strong results, particularly for pre-war and interwar posters, underscore sustained collector demand for original film memorabilia as both art and historical artifacts. The €32,000 record for the 'M' poster highlights the market's appetite for iconic imagery from the silent and early sound eras, while the attention to documentary material from the Occupation period reflects growing interest in film history beyond the screen. MILLON's multi-session approach allowed the collection to reach a broad range of buyers, with online and in-person bidders competing for pieces that weave together cinema, advertising, and graphic design.
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- Artists: Fritz Lang, Jean Renoir, Charlie Chaplin, Jean Gabin, Bruce Lee, Marcel Carné, Jean Cocteau, Jacques Becker, Jean-Luc Godard, René Péron, Jean Carlu, Jean-Gabriel Domergue, Paul Colin, Jean Mascii
- People: René Chateau
- Auction Houses: MILLON
- Locations: Paris
- Prices: €32,000, €23,000, €21,000, €19,000, €28,000, €12,000, €8,000, €4,000, €1,250
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