Belgian original poster (35mm) for the Joseph L. Mankiewicz historical epic, CLEOPATRA (1963) starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and Rex Harrison. Originally this film was supposed to be two three hour movies—the first dealing with Caesar and Cleopatra and the second with Antony and Cleopatra. But Fox, reeling from the exorbitant cost overruns associated with this budgetary debacle, decided to release one four hour movie instead. Elizabeth Taylor’s original contract stipulated that she was to be paid $1 million. But after a lengthy $50 million lawsuit brought by the studio against Burton and Taylor and then a countersuit by Taylor, the studio finally settled with the actress for $7 million. A painting by Howard Terpning was used worldwide for the CLEOPATRA advertising campaign. The poster is in fine plus condition. Linen backing would make this poster shine! Ask us about poster conservation.

Original MGM insert poster for the Mervyn LeRoy Roman/Christian epic, QUO VADIS (1951) starring Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, and Peter Ustinov. Originally cast in 1949 with Elizabeth Taylor and Gregory Peck, the lead actors were changed to Robert Taylor and Kerr when production delays led to Taylor being unavailable, being committed to George Stevens for A PLACE IN THE SUN. Elizabeth Taylor is said to have made a cameo appearance at the end of the movie. Originally John Huston was supposed to direct but walked out following arguments about the script. This film was Louis B. Mayer’s final big-budget production, and the film’s huge box office success is credited with saving MGM from bankruptcy. This stunning spectacle had 110 speaking parts, used 32,000 costumes, and employed over 30,000 extras. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards—including Best Picture, Best Musical Score for Miklos Rozsa, and Best Supporting Actor for both Ustinov and Genn. MGM tried to move the Christian / Roman epic from the flesh-pandering films of DeMille to something more serious. Nevertheless, the spectacle overwhelms the spiritual. This idea would not be accomplished until William Wyler directed BEN-HUR for MGM in 1959. QUO VADIS is now available on Blu-Ray DVD! This colorful epic poster is folded and was definitely theater-used. Some pin-holes exist.

Original MGM Color Printed Lithographic Still (8×10) for the William Wyler historical epic, BEN-HUR (1959) starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith and Haya Harareet. Considered by many critics to be the greatest achievement in cinematic history, Wyler not only had to direct literally “a cast of thousands,” but also was able to pull from his main actors the performances of their lives. Everything about this production was “Enormous.” 50,000 people were used to make the film on 300 sets covering more than 340 acres. The famous chariot race scene was shot in an 18-acre arena that took 40,000 tons of sand to make the track. The stands were packed with 8,000 extras, and it took over three months to shoot the entire scene. MGM, which nearly went bankrupt making the picture, spent over $12.5 million but grossed over $40 million on the project. The film won eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor to Heston, Best Supporting Actor to Griffith, and Best Director to Wyler. Interestingly enough, Gore Vidal worked as a script doctor on this film. This color scene still of Tribune Massala arresting the Hur family was found with a cache of roadshow posters from the movie. The still is dated 1959 and is in very fine condition. We have several stills from this release available on the site.

Original MGM Color Printed Lithograph Still (8×10) for the William Wyler historical epic, BEN-HUR (1959) starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, and Hugh Griffith. The absolute apogee of the religious epic, Wyler not only had to direct literally “a cast of thousands,” but also was able to pull from his main actors the performances of their lives. Everything about this production was enormous – 50,000 people were used to make the film on 300 sets covering more than 340 acres. The famous chariot race scene was shot in an 18-acre arena that took 40,000 tons of sand to make the track. The stands were packed with 8,000 extras, and it took over three months to shoot the entire scene. MGM, which nearly went bankrupt making the picture, spent over $12.5 million, but grossed over $40 million on the project. The film won eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor to Heston, Best Supporting Actor to Griffith, and Best Director to Wyler. Interestingly enough, Gore Vidal worked as a script doctor on this film. Vidal, it is alleged, conspired with Wyler to add a homosexual element to Boyd’s character in the script, creating a sexual tension in the relationship of the two boyhood friends. This still is one of the most famous from the film and is in very fine condition. This color printed still was found with a cache of roadshow material, all dated 1959.