Original Paramount Pictures One Sheet Poster (27×41) for the Cecil B. DeMille circus epic, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952) starring Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, and Dorothy Lamour. This film tells the dramatic stories of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer against a background of circus spectacle. DeMille toured the Midwest for two months with the Ringling Bros. circus—collecting anecdotes, slang, and behind-the-scenes ideas. Furthermore, the director, always demanding of his performers, insisted that everyone truly learn to perform the circus stunts they were supposed to be performing in the film. The popular movie was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two, including Best Picture. This original one sheet poster is folded and in very good plus condition. Some tape residue on the front and a chip is missing from the border area. Would linen back very successfully. Ask us about poster restoration.

Original one sheet poster for the Cecil B. DeMille epic of Circus Life, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952) starring Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Dorothy Lamour and Henry Wilcoxon. One of DeMille’s most popular films, the movie was honored with the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1953. Colorful and lively, with great heaping dollops of melodrama and in-the-arena excitement, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH was filmed up close and personal at Ringling Brothers summer headquaters in Florida. Other pictures have tried to capture the glamor of the circus, but somehow are not remembered with the affection that this magnificent, rowdy and sentimental movie inspires. DeMille was nominated by the Academy of Motion PIcture Arts and Sciences for Best Director, and was awarded the Golden Globe. For a wonderful read about the production of this movie and the many other films which defined DeMille as a great showman, read the wonderful DeMille biography by Scott Eyman, “Empire of Dreams.” The one sheet is in very fine condition.

This is an original Yugoslavian 1960s Re-release Poster (20×28) for the Cecil B. DeMille biblical epic, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, John Derek and Edward G. Robinson. This is the story of Moses, born to slavery but raised as a son of Pharaoh, who learns of his Hebrew heritage and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people. This was DeMille’s second time to direct this story, but his first as a retelling directly of the Bible story; the 1923 version was a silent film told partially in a contemporaneous setting. Heston was chosen for the part because of his striking physical resemblance to Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses. Brynner was chosen because of his magnificent performance in THE KING AND I (1956). Besides the outstanding acting from the major members of the cast, the film boasted a cast of literally thousands, marvelous special effects, beautifully detailed costumes, and lavish sets. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture but only won the much deserved Oscar for Best Special Effects. This 20×28 Yugoslavian poster is probably a re-release poster from the sixties. Modestly priced, the poster is in very good condition with some small tears. This art is significantly different from the 1956 posters, and shows Moses in two tableau from the film — the parting of the red sea and the idolatry of the Children of Israel before the Golden Calf. Linen backing would help this small poster. Please see our post on Linen backing and Restoration.

Original Paramount Pictures Style A One Sheet Poster for the Cecil B. DeMille war drama, THE STORY OF DR. WASSELL (1944) starring Gary Cooper, Laraine Day, Signe Hasso, and Dennis O’Keefe. This film is the story of an American doctor (Cooper) who was ordered to abandon his stretcher cases as the Allies were evacuating Java in 1942, before the Japanese advance. But Dr. Wassell stays behind and gets his wounded men evacuated. While many Hollywood movies depicting World War II are overly sentimental and patriotic, this film (made only two years after the actual events) is about an Allied defeat and how one man risked his life to save the wounded. This original style A one sheet poster is in fine plus condition. Some pinholes, minimal fold separations at intersections, but good color. This poster could easily present as very fine with a simple linen backing. See the featured content on this site about Linen Backing and Restoration.

Original Paramount Pictures Lobby Card (11×14) for the Cecil B. DeMille historical epic, CLEOPATRA (1934) starring Claudette Colbert, Warren William, and Henry Wilcoxon. This film has all the DeMille staples of a great epic—unmitigated opulence, cruel barbarity, shocking decadence and a knowing wit that makes it enormously enjoyable. Claudette Colbert, who was more at home in romantic comedies, delivers a stunning performance as the deadly and fascinating queen of Egypt. The outrageous scene aboard her barge was sneaked in right before the Production Code began to be enforced, which would have censored this and many other “immoral” scenes in the film. This original lobby card of Colbert as the wily queen is in very fine condition for its age, with only some minor pinholes mostly in the borders and some very minor surface wear. Very Fine. A beautiful card indeed.

Original Paramount Pictures Style B One Sheet Poster (27×41) for the Cecil B. DeMille biblical epic, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, and Edward G. Robinson. This is the story of Moses, born to slavery but raised as a son of Pharaoh, who learns of his Hebrew heritage and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people. This was DeMille’s second time to direct this story, as his first 1923 version was a silent film. Heston was chosen for the part because of his striking physical resemblance to Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses. Brynner was chosen because of his magnificent performance in THE KING AND I (1956). Besides the outstanding acting from the major members of the cast, the film boasted a cast of literally thousands, marvelous special effects, beautifully detailed costumes, and lavish sets. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture but only won the much deserved Oscar for Best Special Effects. This original style B one sheet poster is linen-backed and in fine plus condition; the portraits for this poster were taken by Canadian photographer Estrellita Karsh.

Original Paramount Pictures Insert Poster (14×36) for the Cecil B. DeMille war drama, THE STORY OF DR. WASSELL (1944)–starring Gary Cooper, Laraine Day, Signe Hasso, and Dennis O’Keefe. This is the story of an American doctor (Cooper) who is ordered to abandon his stretcher cases as the Allies were evacuating Java in 1942 before the Japanese advance. But Dr. Wassell stays behind and gets his wounded men evacuated. While many Hollywood movies depicting World War II are overly sentimental and patriotic, this film (made only two years after the actual events) is about an Allied defeat and how one man risked his life to save the wounded. This original insert poster is in good condition. Some evidence of tape on the front.

Original Mexican One Sheet Poster (27×36) for the 1956 Cecil B. DeMille Biblical epic, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS– starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, and Anne Baxter. This was DeMille’s last film, which he had previously made before in a silent version in 1923. This new production was truly “larger-than-life” with enormous crowd scenes, lavish spectacles, and amazing special effects for the time. Many critics consider this to be Heston’s greatest role, playing the Hebrew prophet as a humble man with a great inner strength. In the famous Exodus scene, there were over 12,000 people and 15,000 animals stretched over three miles. Costing an unheard of $13 million to make, the film grossed over $80 million and enjoyed several re-releases. The musical score for The Ten Commandments is one of the best by the wonderful Elmer Bernstein. This original Mexican one sheet is in very fine condition.