Original United Artists Half Sheet Poster (22×28) for the music biography, SATCHMO THE GREAT (1957). Originally recorded as an interview on Edward R. Murrow’s “See It Now” TV program in 1951, Murrow later expanded it into a feature-length documentary movie about the jazz great. Within the film, Armstrong’s life is portrayed through his music. The documentary features his trip to West Africa, which he immediately adopted as his ancestral home because of how much he liked the people there. Originally folded, this half sheet poster is in fine condition.

Original Belgian Poster (14×22) for the Peter Glenville historical drama, BECKET (1964) starring Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, John Gielgud, and Gino Cervi. The play “Becket” by Jean Anouilh was originally presented on Broadway during the 1960-61 season, ran for 193 performances, and received several Tony awards including Best Play. In the film version, O’Toole portrays Beckett admirably as a man of ambitious loyalties, but ultimately finding his loyalty to the church when the king makes him Archbishop of Canterbury. The film is well written with memorable acting by the entire cast and great production values. It received 12 Academy Award nominations—including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor nominations for both Burton and O’Toole. Edward Anhalt won the film’s only Oscar for adapting the screenplay from the original Anouilh play. This original Belgian poster is in fine plus condition.

Original Sheet Music (9×12) for the song “St. Louis Blues” sung in the Allen Reisner music biography, ST. LOUIS BLUES (1958) starring Nat “King” Cole, Eartha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerald, and Pearl Bailey. The film is the biography of the composer Will Handy, and the song is performed by Nat “King” Cole and Peal Bailey and reprised later by Eartha Kitt. Although this sheet music is not the official sheet music from the film, it is sheet music for this famous song. Although the photo shows the image slightly eclipsed, the real sheet music has not been trimmed in any way and is in very fine condition.

Eight Original 20th Century-Fox British Front of House Cards (8×10) for the Carol Reed historical biography, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTACY (1965) starring Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Diane Cilento, and Harry Andrews. Based on the novel by Irving Stone, this film chronicles Michelangelo’s (Heston) commission to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Pope Julius II (Harrison). Heston and Harrison are wonderful in their parts, and the film had many other fine qualities that resulted in five Oscar nominations. These original British front of house cards are fine plus to very fine.

Original Universal Pictures 70mm Roadshow Half Sheet Poster (22×28) of John Gavin as the young Julius Caesar for the Stanley Kubrick Roman epic, SPARTACUS (1960) starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and John Gavin. Stanley Kubrick replaced original director Anthony Mann, but it was really Kirk Douglas as Executive Producer who made many of the decisions. The film is a marvelous retelling of the revolt in 73 B.C. at a gladiatorial school, which mushrooms into a crisis for the Roman Republic. Opposing political factions by Olivier and Laughton try to use the revolt to further their political ends. Besides outstanding performances from the entire cast and expert direction by Kubrick, the film has beautiful cinematography by Russell Metty and a brilliant score by Alex North. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards and won five Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor to Ustinov and Best Cinematography to Metty. We have graded this poster as Very Good Plus. There is some paper abrasion near the top center. Colors are vivid. Some edge wear. This poster would be improved with Linen Backing. Roadshow posters are much more difficult to acquire than 35mm release material for this film – and better looking as well.

Original Universal Pictures 70mm Roadshow Half Sheet Poster (22×28) of Charles Laughton as Senator Gracchus for the Stanley Kubrick Roman epic, SPARTACUS (1960) starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and John Gavin. Stanley Kubrick replaced original director Anthony Mann, but it was really Kirk Douglas as Executive Producer who made many of the decisions. The film is a marvelous retelling of the revolt in 73 B.C. at a gladiatorial school, which mushrooms into a crisis for the Roman Republic. Opposing political factions by Olivier and Laughton try to use the revolt to further their political ends. Besides outstanding performances from the entire cast and expert direction by Kubrick, the film has beautiful cinematography by Russell Metty and a brilliant score by Alex North. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards and won five Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor to Ustinov and Best Cinematography to Metty. This folded poster is graded in Good condition. There is a chip out of the left side which has had an amateur paper replacement. There is some edge wear. Some wear at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal fold. Colors vivid. This poster would be much improved with a proper linen backing. Ask us about poster conservation. Roadshow paper for this film is more difficult to find than the 35mm material.

Original Universal Pictures 70mm Roadshow Half Sheet Poster (22×28) of Peter Ustinov as Lentulus Batiatus for the Stanley Kubrick Roman epic, SPARTACUS (1960) starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and John Gavin. Stanley Kubrick replaced original director Anthony Mann, but it was really Kirk Douglas as Executive Producer who made many of the decisions. The film is a marvelous retelling of the revolt in 73 B.C. at a gladiatorial school, which mushrooms into a crisis for the Roman Republic. Opposing political factions by Olivier and Laughton try to use the revolt to further their political ends. Besides outstanding performances from the entire cast and expert direction by Kubrick, the film has beautiful cinematography by Russell Metty and a brilliant score by Alex North. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards and won five Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor to Ustinov and Best Cinematography to Metty. We have graded this poster as VERY GOOD. There is some degradation at the vertical fold on the bottom of the poster and two areas of paper surface abrasion. Colors are vivid. At the top of the poster at the vertical fold line there is some
spotting. This poster would be improved with linen backing. Please ask us about poster conservation. Roadshow posters for this film are more difficult to find than the 35mm material.

Original Universal Pictures 70mm Roadshow Half Sheet Poster (22×28) of Jean Simmons as Varinia for the Stanley Kubrick Roman epic, SPARTACUS (1960) starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and John Gavin. Stanley Kubrick replaced original director Anthony Mann, but it was really Kirk Douglas as Executive Producer who made many of the decisions. The film is a marvelous retelling of the revolt in 73 B.C. at a gladiatorial school, which mushrooms into a crisis for the Roman Republic. Opposing political factions by Olivier and Laughton try to use the revolt to further their political ends. Besides outstanding performances from the entire cast and expert direction by Kubrick, the film has beautiful cinematography by Russell Metty and a brilliant score by Alex North. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards and won five Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor to Ustinov and Best Cinematography to Metty. This roadshow display is graded as FINE. The poster is folded with some minor distresses along the border. Please note that this poster is a full bleed and does not have a white border. At the intersection of the fold lines there is some considerable wear. The vertical fold shows more prominent wear at the top border. Colors are vivid. Linen backing would improve the presentation of the poster. Please ask us about poster conservation. Roadshow posters for this film are more difficult to find than the 35mm material.

Original Set of 8 British Front of House Cards (8×10) for the Anthony Mann epic, EL CID (1961) starring Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, Raf Vallone, and Genevieve Page. This is an epic film of the medieval Spanish hero, El Cid Rodrigo de Bivar (Heston) who ultimately drove the Moors out of Spain. Interlaced into this epic story is a star-crossed romance between Rodrigo and Jimena (Loren). The film was nominated for three Academy Awards; Best Costume Design, Best Original Score for Miklos Rozsa, and Best Original Song for Rozsa and Paul Francis Webster. This original set of British front of house cards is in fine plus condition.

Original Set (11) of British Front of House Cards (8×10) for the Nicholas Ray epic film KING OF KINGS (1961) starring Jeffrey Hunter, Rip Torn, Siobhan McKenna, Harry Guardino, Hurd Hatfield, Robert Ryan, Rita Gam, Brigid Bazlen, Frank Thring, and the amazing Viveca Lindfors. Cinema versions of the life of Christ are not that uncommon worldwide. One of the most interesting is Samuel Bronston’s epic production KING OF KINGS from 1961. Over the years the film has taken some considerable derision, yet there is something lively about it that is often missing from other versions. It is certainly more lively than the other Jesus movie of the sixties, THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965), which has a certain majesty on the giant Cinerama screen but can also be rather portentious at times, laced as it is with a huge cast of well known actors. Two elements stand out about KING OF KINGS. The first is its direction by Nicholas Ray, a seemingly odd choice for a sixties-style 70mm epic. But Ray brings something special to the film – a sense of the interior life of the characters. This was his great talent. The second thing is a fabulous film score by Miklos Rozsa. It’s a beautiful score and within it is a setting of the Lord’s Prayer that is much more beautiful than the famous one which is normally heard. And this cast is comprised of some great actors from Hollywood’s B-list, actors who were unafraid to collaborate with Ray in giving the story some verve. These 8×10 color stills from Britain are vivid and hard to find. There are 11 in this group, but this may not be a complete set. Very Fine Plus.

Original French 47×63 for the Italian film PUCCINI (1953) starring Gabriele Ferzetti as Giacomo Puccini. The film was directed by Carmine Gallone. Gallone directed films over a span of five decades beginning in the silent era. In April of 1953 this biopic of Puccini was released. The film is a rather handsomely mounted production with the narrative of Puccini’s life unfolding in a straightforward manner. Along the way the filmmaker finds time for a lot of Puccini’s music and for the women who influenced the famous composer. One of the best movie posters we have seen for opera lovers. One Fine Day perhaps this large poster will find a place in your music room! This poster is linen backed skillfully without much touch-up and vivid color.

Original 20th Century Fox One Sheet Poster (27×41) for the Philip Kaufman biographical drama, QUILLS (2000) starring Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix, and Michael Caine. The film deals with the incarceration of the infamous Marquis de Sade (Rush) at Charenton Asylum. The Marquis has always been involved in determining the role that sexuality plays in defining who we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is discovered that the Marquis is smuggling out manuscripts on these subjects to publishers on the outside. The Emperor Napoleon is not happy about his turn of events and sends his “specialist” in mental health (Caine), a man more in tune with the Spanish inquisition than modern medicine, to treat the wayward aristocrat. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards—including Best Actor for Rush, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design. This original one sheet poster is rolled and in very fine plus condition.