Trevor Howard – Graham Greene – The Heart of the Matter – Original Press Photograph – London Films – 1952

Description

A particularly interesting original 1952 black-and-white press photograph of Trevor Howard, taken as he prepared to leave Britain for location filming in Sierra Leone for the screen adaptation of Graham Greene’s The Heart of the Matter.

The photograph shows Howard at London Airport, dressed in a belted trench coat and hat and holding a newspaper as he prepares to board a B.O.A.C. aircraft. It is an unusually appealing image because it documents the production process itself rather than simply reproducing a finished-film scene.

The reverse retains the original typed contemporary press caption headed:

“TREVOR HOWARD FLIES TO WEST AFRICA ON LOCATION”

and dated:

5 November 1952

The caption records that Howard had boarded a B.O.A.C. liner at London Airport on his way to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to join the London Films production unit filming location sequences for The Heart of the Matter, Graham Greene’s celebrated novel.

It further states that Howard would star alongside Elizabeth Allan, with studio filming scheduled to begin at Shepperton in December.

The caption gives the contemporary agency reference:

PAR 32160-1 (St-R)

and the reverse additionally carries a Shields Gazette Library stamp and manuscript newsroom annotations.

This unusually specific documentation places the photograph directly within the making of one of the major British literary adaptations of the early 1950s.

Graham Greene and The Heart of the Matter

Published in 1948, The Heart of the Matter is one of Graham Greene’s most important novels. Set in a British colonial territory in West Africa, it centres on Major Henry Scobie, a Catholic police officer whose sense of duty, pity, adultery and spiritual guilt gradually drives him towards catastrophe.

The novel won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and became one of Greene’s defining explorations of Catholic conscience, moral compromise and colonial life. It has remained among his most highly regarded works.

The screen adaptation was released in 1953, directed by George More O’Ferrall, with Trevor Howard as Scobie, Elizabeth Allan, Maria Schell, Denholm Elliott and others in the cast.

Howard’s performance was particularly important and later earned him the BAFTA for Best British Actor.

Production Significance

The present photograph is more interesting than a conventional film still because it records Howard actually leaving for the West African location shoot.

The surviving caption fixes the moment precisely: 5 November 1952, London Airport, B.O.A.C., destination Freetown, Sierra Leone.

That gives the photograph crossover appeal to collectors of:

Trevor Howard
Graham Greene
The Heart of the Matter
British cinema
literary adaptations
African film-location history
original press photography

A comparable original 1953 Heart of the Matter photograph is currently offered by specialist dealer Royal Books at approximately €75, with UK-release provenance verso.

Condition

Very good condition overall for an original working press photograph dating from 1952.

The image remains sharp and well contrasted, with strong detail to Howard’s face, clothing and the aircraft behind him.

There is light age-related toning, minor surface and handling wear and modest edge and corner wear consistent with contemporary newspaper use.

The reverse retains the original green typed caption, Shields Gazette Library stamp and manuscript archive markings. There is light age-related toning and normal handling wear.

Please study both photographs carefully as they form an integral part of the description.

Subject: Trevor Howard
Film: The Heart of the Matter
Literary source: Graham Greene
Character: Major Henry Scobie
Date: 5 November 1952
Location: London Airport
Destination: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Production: London Films
Studio filming: Shepperton Studios
Co-star referenced: Elizabeth Allan
Agency reference: PAR 32160-1 (St-R)
Photographer: Uncredited
Provenance: Shields Gazette photographic archive
Size: 20.4 × 15.2 cm
Format: Original black-and-white press photograph
Verso: Original contemporary production caption, Shields Gazette Library stamp and manuscript annotations
Modern reproduction: No

Authenticity

This photograph has been handled, inspected and catalogued in-house at Hornseys.

Its identity, date and production context are supported directly by the original 5 November 1952 press caption, which names Trevor Howard, The Heart of the Matter, Graham Greene, Sierra Leone and the London Films production unit.

It is an original 1952 working press photograph and not a later reproduction.

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