BB17-074 — A TIME TO LOVE
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YEAR: 1958
ORIGINAL TITLE: A Time to Love and a Time to Die
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: “The Great Love Story of World War II by the Author of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’”
DIRECTOR: Douglas Sirk
CAST: John Gavin, Lilo Pulver, Jock Mahoney, Don DeFore, Keenan Wynn, Erich Maria Remarque, Klaus Kinski
SCREENPLAY: Orin Jannings, based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque
PRODUCER: Robert Arthur
MUSIC: Miklós Rózsa
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Russell Metty
GENRE: War / Romance / Drama
POSTER PRINTER: Cunningham & Co. Pty. Ltd., Litho., Sydney
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

A Time to Love, originally released as A Time to Love and a Time to Die, is Douglas Sirk's 1958 adaptation of the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, author of All Quiet on the Western Front. Set in Germany during the final years of World War II, it follows German soldier Ernst Graeber, played by John Gavin, who returns home on leave and falls in love with Elisabeth, played by Lilo Pulver, amid the destruction of war. Universal produced the film in Germany during 1957, with its theatrical release following in 1958.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A superb early Australian Daybill dominated by richly coloured romantic artwork of John Gavin and Lilo Pulver, framed by deep red curtains against a glowing bomb-damaged European cityscape. Strong blue, yellow, red and green tones surround the oversized A TIME TO LOVE title, with CinemaScope and Eastman Color prominently promoted beneath. The lower section carries the Universal-International branding and Australian “NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN” classification. The Australian campaign uses the shortened A Time to Love title, an alternate title specifically documented in contemporary records.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: A particularly desirable combination of Douglas Sirk, Erich Maria Remarque and classic 1950s romantic artwork. Remarque did more than supply the source novel: he contributed to the screenplay and appears in the film as Professor Pohlmann — the only film adaptation of his work in which he acted. John Gavin would shortly become internationally recognised through Imitation of Life and Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, while Sirk's reputation has grown substantially, with A Time to Love and a Time to Die now recognised as an important work from the final period of his Hollywood career.