Palm Springs home once owned by ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ director seeks $6 million

A Spanish-style estate once home to the legendary film director Howard Hawks is for sale in Palm Springs for $5.995 million.

Dubbed “Casa de Plata,” the so-called “House of Silver,” dating to 1949, has five bedrooms, six bathrooms and 6,200 square feet of living space.

Tall palms, artificial turf and a water feature welcome guests to the walled and gated estate. It sits on nearly two-thirds of an acre in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood.

Records show it last traded hands in 2010 for $2.1 million.

“This kind of stunning estate is rarely available in the area,” said Scott Histed, luxe director at Bennion Deville Homes and the listing agent. “It is ideal for hosting lavish parties and yet the well-crafted home still feels homey.”

Double-entry doors open onto a spacious great room with high wood-beamed ceilings, glass walls, and star and cross-shaped Saltillo flooring that runs inside and out. The great room accommodates several seating areas, including one huddled around a fireplace with a chandelier above.

A door opens into the large gourmet kitchen featuring a walk-in appliance pantry, a peninsula island with seating, and a breakfast area that connects to the family room.

The primary suite boasts a large bathroom with an open shower and a separate steam sauna in period tile. Like all of the bedroom suites in the house, it features a large closet, an adobe-style fireplace and direct outdoor access.

Nearly every room offers views of the garden and the San Jacinto Mountains.

In the resort-style backyard, a large pool, spa and casita — complete with a kitchen and bathroom — take center stage. An attached two-car garage completes the offerings of this historic home.

Scott Histed of Bennion Deville Homes holds the listing.

Hawks, who died in 1977 at 81, was a celebrated filmmaker whose career began in the silent era. Although he never won an Oscar for a particular work, he received an Honorary Academy Award as “a master American filmmaker whose creative efforts hold a distinguished place in world cinema” in 1975.

Jon C. Hopwood of the Internet Movie Database called Hawks “unique and uniquely modern in that, despite experiencing his career peak in an era dominated by studios and the producer system in which most directors were simply hired hands brought in to shoot a picture, he also served as a producer and developed the scripts for his films.”

Add in his eye for talent.

Hawks gave Lauren Bacall, Montgomery Cliff and James Caan their first big break. He turned John Wayne into a superstar with some of his best roles, beginning with “Red River” in 1948, Hopwood wrote.

There are too many movies to list here. Still, his credits include “Bringing Up Baby,” “His Girl Friday,” “Sergeant York” (for which he received a Best Director Oscar nod), “To Have and Have Not,” “The Big Sleep,” “Monkey Business,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Rio Bravo.”