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Guillermo del Toro

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Mexican-born filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has created a distinctive cinematic style mixing the world of monster movies, comic books, and exuberant visuals straight from his imagination. He studied under Oscar-winning special effects artist Dick Smith and made his first feature film, Cronos, in 1993. Since then he has directed and produced numerous films in both the United States and Mexico, all of which exhibit his love for outcast monsters who are more than they seem.

Featuring highlights from the Margaret Herrick Library and the Academy Film Archive.

 

Guillermo del Toro
This production photo shows the disassembled model for the title device in Guillermo del Toro’s first feature film.
the title device in Cronos
Guillermo del Toro envisioned and commissioned vast amounts of artwork for Cronos, including production paintings, storyboards, and conceptual sketches.
Cronos
The filmmaker is fond of creating reference notebooks for his films, detailing the mechanics and designs of props and creatures, as seen in this example from CRONOS (1992).
director’s notebooks
In Guillermo del Toro’s first American production, Mimic (1997), the two actors are pitted against an evolving, subterranean insect race.
Mimic
Guillermo del Toro directs Josh Brolin on the set of the 1997 film.
directing Josh Brolin
This intricate, silkscreened Mondo poster design for Guillermo Del Toro’s second Spanish-language film echoes the rich gothic and historical influences within the director’s only ghost story to date.
The Devils’ Backbone
The Spanish actor undergoes the elaborate body casting process for a climactic scene in Guillermo del Toro’s THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE (2001).
Eduardo Noriega
As with Guillermo del Toro’s other Spanish-language horror and fantasy films, The Devil’s Backbone prominently features a child protagonist, in this case young Carlos played by Fernando Tielve.
The Devil’s Backbone
Guillermo del Toro’s second Hollywood film was also his first sequel. Wesley Snipes returned as the comic book vampire slayer, fighting a new array of monster creations.
Blade II
The director feeling right at home behind the scenes with one of the vampiric villains of BLADE II (2002).
BLADE II
Guillermo del Toro returned to the world of comics with Hellboy, an adaptation of the Dark Horse Comic graphic novel.
HELLBOY
Director Guillermo del Toro directs a scene in his favorite environment.
HELLBOY
Playing the title role of Hellboy, Perlman has appeared in many of Guillermo del Toro’s films. Here he is seen with Selma Blair in the role of Liz.
Ron Perlman
Guillermo del Toro completed his trilogy of Spanish-language dark fantasies in 2006 with this film inspired by years of notes and doodles in his personal notebooks.
Pan's Labyrinth
After premiering at Cannes, the film became a major critical success and took home three Academy Awards for Cinematography, Makeup and Art Direction.
PAN'S LABYRINTH
In 2007, the three major Mexican-born filmmakers joined up at the Academy Awards.
2007 Oscars
Guillermo del Toro’s style extends to the props in his films, such as this weapon design for HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY.
Big Baby
A monstrous showdown is depicted is this colorful production painting.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Giant robots and kaiju (Japanese monsters) collided in the 2013 film, which featured elaborate creations by Industrial Light & Magic and Legacy Effects. Director Guillermo del Toro is seen here during production.
Pacific Rim
Guillermo del Toro has served as a producer on several films including KUNG FU PANDA 2, PUSS IN BOOTS and RISE OF THE GUARDIANS.
Kung Fu Panda 2
What monsters scare him?
Pacific Rim

More Collection Highlights

Stevens Family Collection

Giant

George Stevens and Son
Hepburn and Stevens
George Stevens Jr., speaking at the Academy

Richard Donner

title

Superman Poster
title
Omen poster

Rick Baker

American Werewolf

Schlock
King Kong
An American Werewolf in London

The French Connection

French connection

action
cast list
chase

FLFA Posters

FLFA

La Strada - Italy
The Nights Of Cabiria
My Uncle

The Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the Lambs Makeup Touch up

Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster and others in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, 1991.
Silence of the Lambs Set Pictures

Mary Pickford

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Publicity portrait
Business card
Mary Pickford

Miracle on 34th Street

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Edmund Gwenn
George Seaton and Valentine Davies
Early draft as This Is the Time

Titanic

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70th Oscars
Casting of roles of Jack and Rose
Hollywood Reporter story