*Murnau's Sunrise (1927) Oversized Double-Wt and 50 similar items

This is a vintage original 10x14 in. U.S. double-weight matte photograph from what many considered the greatest American silent film ever made, SUNRISE, released in 1927 by the Fox Film Corporation and directed by F.W. Murnau. George O’Brien and Janet Gaynor co-star in this allegorical tale about a man fighting the good and evil within him. Both sides are made flesh - one a sophisticated woman he is attracted to (Margaret Livingston) and the other his wife. The image is from one of the film's most emotional and pivotal scenes and depicts an interior long shot inside a church as The Man (George O'Brien) and The Wife (Janet Gaynor), having come into the church after The Man had tried to drown his Wife, stand side-by-side with their backs to the camera as they both observe a young couple being married by a priest as a strong beam of light shines down upon the bride and groom. This touching ceremony makes The Man remember his own wedding and subsequent life with his Wife and he then breaks down sobbing on her lap inside the church as he begs her forgiveness for trying to kill her. Here's the interesting part: As indicated in the lower right corner of the image area, this photograph was taken by the famous photographer of female nudes, JOHN MIEHLE, and he has signed his name in black ink in this corner as well as a second time beneath the photograph on the piece of presentation stock. Miehle is not credited as a still photographer on this film and his biography on IMDb and other similar sites state that he did not start his career as a Hollywood stills photographer until 1931. However, our initial research has found an article in the September 25, 1928 issue of The Film Daily (see the last photograph is this listing. The article is the second one in the far right column entitled "Injuries Suffered by U.A. Unit") which states that "John Miehle, still photographer, sustained a broken nose in a rock slide" during the filming of the United Artists production of King of the Mountains (John Barrymore, the film's star, suffered two severe ankle sprains during production). The logical conclusion is that, for whatever reason, his start as a motion pictures still photographer has not been fully documented as to his formative years. This vintage original photograph measures 10x13 in. and was printed without the customary outer white borders. It has been mounted onto a larger piece of presentation cardstock measuring 14.75 x 18 in. that features a wide outer border and was used to either document this production for the Fox Film Corporation or for commercial display. The photograph was not fully mounted to the larger cardstock, as a small portion of the bottom can be lifted slightly off the larger piece. While the outer piece of cardstock has a large chip on the top right and bottom left corners, a smaller chip on the top left and bottom right corners with some stains and surface dirt from time, the photograph itself is in near-perfect condition without any visible flaws. Please note that the actual tones of the photograph look exactly as they appear in the first two photographs of our listing, as they do not have more of a black-and-white look as they appear in the following photograph that depicts the entire piece of presentation cardstock). This is truly a very rare and highly desirable vintage original piece of silent film history from what many consider the greatest American silent film ever made and it has the additional benefit of being signed twice by the photographer himself. This vintage original photograph will be shipped between multiple pieces of sturdy cardboard on either side to prevent damage during transit.