1950's Movie Posters: Sunset Framing Gallery - Picture Framing Port Macquarie

Man Afraid

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-021 — Man Afraid
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YEAR: 1957
FILM STUDIO: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: The most terrifying suspense your heart has ever felt!
DIRECTOR: Harry Keller
CAST: George Nader, Phyllis Thaxter, Tim Hovey, Harold J. Stone, Eduard Franz, Reta Shaw
GENRE: Film Noir, Crime, Drama, Thriller

POSTER PRINTER: A.C. Cunningham & Co. Pty. Ltd.POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: Original Australian daybill with a striking illustrated 1950s design dominated by vivid red, yellow and white. Large suspense typography fills the upper section above a small noir-style scene, while illustrated portraits of George Nader and Phyllis Thaxter anchor the lower half. The oversized yellow Man Afraid title and prominent Australian “Not Suitable for Children” classification badge give the poster particularly strong period character.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: Original Australian daybill for the 1957 Universal-International suspense thriller Man Afraid. The film stars George Nader and Phyllis Thaxter and was directed by Harry Keller; it is also notable as the feature-film debut of Troy Donahue. Its colourful illustrated artwork, film-noir styling, 1950s Universal connection and Australian daybill format make this an appealing example of mid-century cinema advertising.

Lost Lagoon

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-031 — LOST LAGOON
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YEAR: 1958 — copyright/production completed 1957
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Bermuda Studio Productions Co. Ltd. / United Artists
TAGLINE: “Stolen moments… stolen money… stolen kisses… in the Lost Lagoon”
DIRECTOR: John Rawlins
CAST: Jeffrey Lynn, Lelia Barry, Peter Donat, Don Gibson, Roger Clark, Jane Hartley
GENRE: Romance / Drama
POSTER PRINTER: Chromoprint
FORMAT: Australian DaybillPOSTER

DESIGN FEATURES: A particularly colourful late-1950s Australian Daybill with a vivid yellow background, bold red-and-black typography and romantic illustrated artwork. A large embracing couple dominates the lower half, while the upper vignette shows a suited man carrying a case from a boat. The repeated “stolen moments… stolen money… stolen kisses…” advertising gives the poster an appealing combination of romance, intrigue and classic exploitation-style promotion.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: Lost Lagoon follows an unhappy married businessman presumed dead after being lost at sea, who finds a new life and romance on a Caribbean island before an insurance investigation threatens his escape. The film was shot entirely on location in the Caribbean and stars Jeffrey Lynn alongside Lelia Barry and Peter Donat. Its colourful Australian artwork is especially attractive compared with the film's relatively modest profile today.

Women Are Weak

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-033 — WOMEN ARE WEAK
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YEAR: 1959
ORIGINAL TITLE: Faibles Femmes ALTERNATE TITLE: Three Murderesses / 3 Murderesses
FILM STUDIO / DISTRIBUTOR: Paul Graetz Production / Paramount Pictures
DIRECTOR: Michel Boisrond
CAST: Mylène Demongeot, Pascale Petit, Jacqueline Sassard, Alain Delon, Noël Roquevert, Monique Mélinand, Pierre Mondy, André Luguet, Simone Renant
GENRE: Comedy / Romantic Comedy
POSTER PRINTER: W.E. Smith Limited
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A wonderfully colourful late-1950s Australian Daybill with large hand-drawn red title lettering and vibrant illustrated artwork showing Alain Delon surrounded by the film's three female leads. Bright green, blue, pink and mustard clothing creates a playful composition against the predominantly white background. The poster also prominently advertises the film's French title Faibles Femmes and its presentation “in Eastman Color.”

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: This is an especially appealing early Alain Delon poster, produced near the beginning of his international screen career and before the films that established him as one of European cinema's major stars. Women Are Weak was released in France as Faibles Femmes and internationally under several titles, including Three Murderesses. The combination of Delon's early-career appearance, Mylène Demongeot, Pascale Petit and Jacqueline Sassard, and colourful Australian-specific artwork gives this Daybill considerably more collector interest than the film's light romantic-comedy subject might initially suggest.

Circus Stars Big Arena

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-042 — THE BIG ARENA
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YEAR: 1958/1959
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Central Documentary Film Studios, Moscow
TAGLINE: “International Circus Thrills” / “The World’s Greatest Circus Stars in The Big Arena” FEATURED PERFORMER: Oleg Popov, the celebrated Soviet clown
GENRE: Documentary / Circus / Family Entertainment
POSTER PRINTER: Advertising & Commercial Printers Pty. Ltd. — visible along the lower edge
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A superbly colourful Australian Daybill with an exceptionally strong circus theme. Against a brilliant yellow ground are individually illustrated trapeze artists, a clown riding a unicycle, an elephant, performing bears and other circus performers. Bold red, blue and green typography advertises “International Circus Thrills,” “World’s Wildest Wild Animal Act!” and “Fantastic Dancing Bears with Savage Rhythms!” The MGM release credit and Australian “For General Exhibition” triangle complete the period cinema presentation.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: This is an unusual crossover piece between vintage cinema and circus memorabilia. The Big Arena documented performers from the Soviet State Circus during the period when Soviet circus companies were attracting considerable international attention, with renowned clown Oleg Popov specifically promoted in the Australian advertising. A contemporary 1960 review described the film as a screen representation of the Soviet State Circus and praised its spectacular acts and entertainment value. The highly decorative Australian artwork gives the poster appeal well beyond collectors specifically seeking the film.

Land of the Pharaohs

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-043 — LAND OF THE PHARAOHS
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YEAR: 1955
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Warner Bros. Pictures / Continental Company Ltd.
TAGLINE: “The barbaric love that left the Great Pyramid as its landmark!”
DIRECTOR: Howard Hawks
CAST: Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, Dewey Martin, Alexis Minotis, James Robertson Justice, Luisa Boni, Sydney Chaplin, James Hayter
MUSIC: Dimitri Tiomkin
GENRE: Historical Epic / Adventure / Drama / Sword and Sandal
POSTER PRINTER: W.E. Smith Limited, Sydney
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A superb early Australian Daybill with richly coloured illustrated artwork. The design combines Egyptian architecture, a monumental Pharaoh figure, pyramid imagery and a dramatic scene of a chained woman, while Joan Collins is prominently illustrated in striped Egyptian costume across the lower half. Bright orange-red title lettering, turquoise-blue shadows and deep green and brown panels create an exceptionally strong 1950s Technicolor-era appearance. Australian censorship markings and the W.E. Smith Sydney printer credit add further local period character.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: This is a particularly desirable combination of Howard Hawks, Joan Collins and classic 1950s Hollywood epic filmmaking. Collins was only in her early twenties when she played the ambitious Princess Nellifer, giving the poster additional appeal as an early piece from her long screen career. The film also represents the final collaboration between Hawks and Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner. Its Egyptian subject matter, Great Pyramid imagery and highly decorative artwork give this Daybill crossover appeal beyond film collectors into vintage Egyptian and mid-century cinema décor.

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-045 — ABBOTT AND COSTELLO GO TO MARS
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YEAR: 1953
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: “They’re on an outer-space spree!!”
DIRECTOR: Charles Lamont
CAST: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Mari Blanchard, Robert Paige, Martha Hyer, Horace McMahon, Jack Kruschen, Jean Willes, Anita Ekberg
PRODUCER: Howard Christie
GENRE: Science Fiction / Comedy / Family
POSTER PRINTER:
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A striking and unusually minimalist Australian Daybill printed almost entirely in blue and red against white. Large illustrated portraits of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello dominate the upper half, with their surnames incorporated into an oversized hand-lettered title treatment. The lower section uses bold red typography, stars and the Australian “For General Exhibition” triangle. Unlike many international posters for the film, this Australian design concentrates almost entirely on the instantly recognisable comedy duo rather than spaceships, planets or female characters.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: This is a particularly appealing Australian poster for one of cinema's most famous comedy partnerships, combining Abbott and Costello with the hugely collectible 1950s science-fiction genre. The film also contains an early appearance by Anita Ekberg, several years before La Dolce Vita. Australian Daybills for the title are documented in specialist Abbott and Costello poster collections, including more than one Australian Daybill design.

The Big Hunt

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-067 — THE BIG HUNT
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YEAR: 1959
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Sherwood-Dungan Productions / An Ellis Dungan Production
DISTRIBUTOR: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
DIRECTOR: George Sherwood
FEATURED: Ellis Dungan; narration/commentary by Sidney Hertzberg
SCREENPLAY: George Sherwood
GENRE: Documentary / Adventure / Wildlife
POSTER PRINTER: Chromo Print — this particular design is documented by Australian poster collectors as a Chromo Print Daybill.
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

The Big Hunt is a feature-length documentary filmed in India and Pakistan, following American filmmaker and adventurer Ellis Dungan as wild elephants and a rhinoceros are captured and trained. The film also documents a Hindu festival and a tiger hunt with the Maharaja of Cooch Behar. Although subsequently released in the US in 1969 by Crown International, AFI records the production as having been filmed in 1958, while contemporary material and MGM releases identify it as a 1959 film.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: An unusually minimalist Australian Daybill printed almost entirely in vivid blue against white. The upper artwork depicts a dramatic Indian hunting scene with a turbaned hunter confronting large cats amid jungle vegetation. The lower half leaves substantial negative space around the strongly angled THE BIG HUNT title, MGM branding and large Australian “FOR GENERAL EXHIBITION” classification triangle. Its limited-colour graphic treatment is distinctly different from the photographic and full-colour advertising commonly associated with wildlife documentaries.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: A fascinating piece of both Australian cinema advertising and documentary history. Filmmaker Ellis Dungan spent many years working in India and became particularly important in the development of Tamil-language cinema. His surviving archive specifically contains correspondence, promotional material, photographs, contracts and scripts relating to The Big Hunt, which was also known as Jangal. Contemporary promotion could be spectacular: in Britain, the Hyde Park Picture House famously brought in a real circus elephant to promote the film in 1959. For Australian poster collectors, this title is also specifically documented among known Chromo Print Daybills, adding another layer of local poster-history interest.

A Time to Love

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>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.

Rock, Pretty Baby!

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-076 — ROCK, PRETTY BABY!
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YEAR: 1956
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: “It’s the Rock-and-Roll Sensation of Our Generation!”
DIRECTOR: Richard Bartlett
CAST: Sal Mineo, John Saxon, Luana Patten, Edward C. Platt, Fay Wray, Rod McKuen, Shelley Fabares
SCREENPLAY: Herbert Margolis and William Raynor
PRODUCER: Albert J. Cohen
MUSIC: Henry Mancini
GENRE: Rock & Roll / Musical / Teen Drama / Romance

FORMAT: Australian DaybillRock, Pretty Baby! is an early rock-and-roll teen musical centred on a group of high-school musicians trying to make it through a television talent contest. The Smithsonian confirms the 1956 film, Richard Bartlett as director and the principal trio of Sal Mineo, John Saxon and Luana Patten.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A terrific early rock-and-roll Australian Daybill with colourful illustrated artwork rather than photographic imagery. John Saxon and Luana Patten embrace on a beach above the enormous red ROCK, PRETTY BABY! title, while smaller vignettes show teenage romance, a drummer and a performing band. Blue hand-drawn typography announces “It’s the Rock-and-Roll Sensation of Our Generation!” The Australian “FOR GENERAL EXHIBITION” triangle and Universal-International branding appear prominently at the bottom. The combination of beach culture, teenage romance and live music gives this poster an unmistakable mid-1950s youth-culture appearance.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: This one has genuine crossover appeal beyond movie-poster collecting. It comes from the first wave of Hollywood films built around the emerging rock-and-roll youth market, and features Sal Mineo shortly after Rebel Without a Cause, alongside John Saxon and Luana Patten. The supporting credits add Fay Wray, Rod McKuen and Shelley Fabares, while Henry Mancini contributed to the score. Original Rock, Pretty Baby! material is actively collected internationally, particularly when the artwork strongly features its rock-and-roll theme.

Meet Me in Las Vegas

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-078 — MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS
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YEAR: 1956
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
TAGLINE: “A Goldmine of Entertainment”
DIRECTOR: Roy Rowland
CAST: Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Agnes Moorehead, Jim Backus, Cara Williams, George Chakiris, Lena Horne, Frankie Laine, Jerry Colonna, Paul Henreid, Peter Lorre, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra
GENRE: Musical / Romantic Comedy
POSTER PRINTER: Not visible on this particular Australian poster — I would leave this field unrecorded rather than guess
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

Meet Me in Las Vegas is MGM's colourful 1956 musical comedy starring Dan Dailey and Cyd Charisse, built around the glamour of Las Vegas. The film follows a gambler who discovers his luck changes dramatically whenever he holds the hand of a reluctant dancer. The production also packs in an extraordinary collection of musical performers and celebrity cameos, including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Lena Horne and Frankie Laine.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A wonderfully minimalist Australian Daybill dominated by a stylised blue-and-white pin-up illustration of Cyd Charisse, whose elongated dancer's legs run through almost the entire composition. Stars surround the figure while the MGM and Dan Dailey credits sit above, with COLOR and CINEMASCOPE displayed across angled blue panels. The handwritten-style Meet Me in Las Vegas title completes a very clean piece of mid-century graphic design. Unlike many international posters for the film, this Australian design strips away the busy Las Vegas imagery and makes Cyd Charisse herself the visual focus.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: This poster has several collecting markets working in its favour: classic MGM musicals, Cyd Charisse, Las Vegas imagery and 1950s mid-century design. Charisse was one of MGM's defining dancers of the period, and the film's supporting appearances create additional music and Hollywood crossover appeal. The unusually restrained Australian artwork is particularly attractive because it presents more like a piece of 1950s graphic design than a conventional illustrated film poster.

So This Is Paris

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-079 — SO THIS IS PARIS
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YEAR: 1955
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: “U-I’s Greatest Musical!”
DIRECTOR: Richard Quine
CAST: Tony Curtis, Gloria DeHaven, Gene Nelson, Corinne Calvet, Paul Gilbert, Mara Corday
SCREENPLAY: Charles Hoffman, from a story by Ray Buffum
PRODUCER: Albert J. Cohen
MUSIC: Henry Mancini and Herman Stein
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Maury Gertsman
GENRE: Musical / Romantic Comedy
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

So This Is Paris is a 1955 Universal-International musical romantic comedy following three American sailors on leave in Paris, starring Tony Curtis, Gloria DeHaven and Gene Nelson. Significantly, it was Tony Curtis's only singing performance in a film musical.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A wonderfully minimalist Australian Daybill printed almost entirely in blue against a white background. A stylised sailor illustration dominates the upper half, surrounded by musical notes and stars, while the sweeping hand-lettered SO THIS IS PARIS title fills the centre. Technicolor, Tony Curtis and the principal cast are prominently advertised below, together with the Australian “FOR GENERAL EXHIBITION” classification. The restrained two-colour treatment gives this example a particularly strong 1950s mid-century graphic-design quality.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: A particularly appealing Tony Curtis poster because So This Is Paris represents his only film-musical singing performance. The supporting cast adds further classic-Hollywood interest through Gene Nelson, Gloria DeHaven, Corinne Calvet and Mara Corday. Its unusual Australian artwork also differs markedly from the more colourful international campaigns, giving the Daybill its own distinct visual identity.

Walking My Baby Back Home

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-081 — WALKING MY BABY BACK HOME
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YEAR: 1953
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: No conventional tagline appears on this Australian design
DIRECTOR: Lloyd Bacon
CAST: Donald O'Connor, Janet Leigh, Buddy Hackett, Lori Nelson, Scatman Crothers
SCREENPLAY: Don McGuire and Oscar Brodney; Lenny Bruce also contributed uncredited material
PRODUCER: Ted Richmond
MUSIC: Henry Mancini contributed to the score
GENRE: Musical / Comedy / Romance
POSTER PRINTER: No printer credit is visible in the supplied image — left unrecorded
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

Walking My Baby Back Home is a 1953 Universal-International musical starring Donald O'Connor and Janet Leigh, with Buddy Hackett making his feature-film debut. The story follows a returning serviceman and musician who joins a travelling show and falls for the show owner's niece. AFI notes that it was Universal's first musical since 1948's Up in Central Park.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A beautifully restrained Australian Daybill printed almost entirely in bright blue against white. Donald O'Connor dominates the design in a large dancing sailor pose, with the unusually shaped WALKING MY BABY BACK HOME title filling the lower half. Janet Leigh receives prominent billing despite not being pictured. The minimal two-colour artwork, oversized typography and generous white space give this poster a particularly strong 1950s mid-century graphic-design aesthetic.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: There are some excellent names tucked into this film. Alongside Donald O'Connor and Janet Leigh, it marked Buddy Hackett's feature-film debut, while Scatman Crothers appears in the supporting cast. The film later gained an unusual second life through Columbo: clips from it appear in the 1975 episode Forgotten Lady, in which Janet Leigh plays an ageing former musical star watching one of her old films.

The High and the Mighty

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-091 — THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY
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YEAR: 1954
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Wayne-Fellows Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
TAGLINE: “Civilised people turned into a rabble of violence & terror”
DIRECTOR: William A. Wellman
CAST: John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Laraine Day, Robert Stack, Jan Sterling, Phil Harris, Robert Newton, David Brian
SCREENPLAY: Ernest K. Gann, based on his 1953 novel
PRODUCERS: Robert Fellows and John Wayne
MUSIC: Dimitri Tiomkin
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Archie Stout
GENRE: Aviation / Adventure / Drama / Disaster Film / Thriller

FORMAT: Australian Daybill

The High and the Mighty is the 1954 aviation drama starring John Wayne as veteran airline first officer Dan Roman, aboard a passenger flight that develops catastrophic engine trouble while crossing the Pacific. Directed by William A. Wellman, it became an important early template for the ensemble disaster-film genre.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A strikingly minimalist Australian Daybill dominated by a large black aircraft silhouette above an oversized black-to-red title treatment. Red hand-lettered cast billing highlights John Wayne, Claire Trevor and the extensive supporting cast. Unlike many international posters for the film, this Australian design avoids portraits entirely, instead selling the danger of the aircraft and the film's dramatic premise.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: An important John Wayne title outside his better-known Westerns and war films, with Wayne also serving as producer. The film received six Academy Award nominations, with Dimitri Tiomkin winning for his memorable original score; Claire Trevor and Jan Sterling were both nominated for supporting actress. Its combination of John Wayne, aviation history and early disaster-film significance gives the poster several distinct collector markets.

The High Cost of Loving

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-094 — THE HIGH COST OF LOVING
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YEAR: 1958
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
TAGLINE: “A Candid Connubial Comedy!” / “As intimate as the young couple next door who forgot to pull down the blind!”
DIRECTOR: José Ferrer
CAST: José Ferrer, Gena Rowlands, Joanne Gilbert, Jim Backus, Bobby Troup
SCREENPLAY: Rip Van Ronkel
PRODUCER: Milo O. Frank Jr.
MUSIC: Jeff Alexander
CINEMATOGRAPHY: George J. Folsey
GENRE: Comedy / Marriage Comedy / Satire
POSTER PRINTER: Not identified with enough certainty
FORMAT: Australian DaybillThe High Cost of Loving is a 1958 MGM comedy starring José Ferrer as a married businessman simultaneously confronting possible unemployment and the prospect of becoming a father. Ferrer also directed the film.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A particularly attractive 1950s Australian design featuring a full-length illustrated José Ferrer and Gena Rowlands embracing, set against a pale blue geometric background. Strong red and blue hand-lettered typography, Ferrer's vivid yellow suit and Rowlands' pink nightwear give the poster excellent mid-century colour and display appeal.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: Particularly significant as the feature-film debut of Gena Rowlands, who went on to become one of the most acclaimed American screen actresses of her generation. José Ferrer both stars and directs, making this an interesting early Rowlands collectible as well as a strong example of 1950s MGM romantic-comedy advertising.

Many Rivers to Cross

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-108 — MANY RIVERS TO CROSS
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YEAR: 1955
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
DIRECTOR: Roy Rowland
CAST: Robert Taylor, Eleanor Parker, Victor McLaglen, Jeff Richards, Russ Tamblyn, James Arness, Josephine Hutchinson
SCREENPLAY: Harry Brown and Guy Trosper, based on a story by Steve Frazee
PRODUCER: Jack Cummings
MUSIC: Cyril J. Mockridge CINEMATOGRAPHY: John Seitz
GENRE: Western / Adventure / Comedy / Romance
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

Many Rivers to Cross is a 1955 MGM frontier Western starring Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker, set in the Kentucky wilderness of 1798. Taylor plays an independent trapper pursued romantically by Parker's determined frontier woman.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: An unusually minimalist Australian Daybill printed almost entirely in turquoise blue against white, featuring stylised artwork of Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker above the large block-letter title. Its sparse two-colour design is quite different from the more elaborate full-colour international campaign artwork.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: A strong classic-MGM Western pairing Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker, with supporting appearances from Victor McLaglen, Russ Tamblyn and James Arness. The film was shot partly on location along California's Russian River and includes Taylor and Parker singing “The Berry Tree.”

The Spoilers

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-110 — THE SPOILERS
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YEAR: 1955
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
DIRECTOR: Jesse Hibbs
CAST: Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler, Rory Calhoun, Ray Danton, Barbara Britton, John McIntire
SCREENPLAY: Oscar Brodney and Charles Hoffman, based on the novel by Rex Beach
PRODUCER: Ross Hunter
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Maury Gertsman
GENRE: Western / Adventure / Drama
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

The Spoilers is a 1955 Technicolor Western starring Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler and Rory Calhoun, set during the Alaskan Gold Rush and centred on miners fighting to protect their claims from corruption and claim-jumping.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: Striking minimalist Australian Daybill printed almost entirely in turquoise blue on white, with the enormous The Spoilers title dominating the upper half. Illustrated action artwork of Jeff Chandler and Rory Calhoun fighting appears below the cast names, giving this Australian design a very different appearance from the full-colour international campaign.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: This was the fifth and final film adaptation of Rex Beach's famous 1906 novel. Earlier versions included the 1930 film starring Gary Cooper and the particularly well-known 1942 adaptation starring John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich and Randolph Scott.

Dragnet

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-118 — DRAGNET
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YEAR: 1954
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Mark VII Ltd. / Warner Bros. Pictures
TAGLINE: “My name’s Friday!”
DIRECTOR: Jack Webb
CAST: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Richard Boone, Ann Robinson, Stacy Harris, Virginia Gregg, Vic Perrin
SCREENPLAY: Richard L. Breen
PRODUCER: Stanley D. Meyer
MUSIC: Walter Schumann
GENRE: Crime / Drama / Film Noir / Police Procedural
POSTER PRINTER: Not identified with enough certainty
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

Dragnet is the 1954 feature-film adaptation of Jack Webb's influential police procedural, with Webb both directing and starring as Detective Sergeant Joe Friday. It brought the already successful radio and television franchise to cinemas through Warner Bros.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: Exceptionally minimalist Australian Daybill using only deep blue against white, dominated by a full-length graphic portrait of Jack Webb as Joe Friday. The huge JACK WEBB / DRAGNET typography and simple “My name’s Friday!” headline make this distinctly different from the more colourful American theatrical campaign.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: Dragnet became one of the defining early police-procedural franchises, beginning on radio before moving to television and film. This Australian Daybill is particularly collectible for its stark locally produced artwork and prominent Jack Webb imagery. An exact Australian example is documented by MovieMem as an “exceptionally rare original hand litho Australian daybill”.

VIEW THIS POSTER: See the current price and availability in our Vintage Movie Poster Collection.

This Is Russia!

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-131 — THIS IS RUSSIA!
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YEAR: 1958
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: “Inside Story! Of the land of mystery and contrast that produced the Earth Satellites!”
DIRECTOR: Sid Feder
NARRATOR: Carey Wilson
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sid Feder
PRODUCERS: Sid Feder and Carey Wilson
MUSIC: Heinz Roemheld and Herman Stein
GENRE: Documentary / Travelogue / Cold War
POSTER PRINTER: F. Cunningham & Co. Pty. Ltd.
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

This Is Russia! is a feature-length Cold War documentary filmed inside the Soviet Union by Sid Feder, covering Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Yalta, Siberia and other locations. Universal-International acquired Feder's footage and released the finished 67-minute documentary theatrically in 1958.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: Striking mid-century Australian Daybill using oversized red typography with blocks of yellow, pale blue and dark teal. A small cameraman illustration and silhouette of Moscow's St Basil's Cathedral reinforce the documentary theme. The reference to “THE EARTH SATELLITES!” places the advertising firmly within the early Sputnik-era fascination with the Soviet Union.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: This is an unusually interesting piece of Cold War and Space Race-era cinema advertising. Feder reportedly travelled some 20,000 miles through the Soviet Union over several trips, carrying his own camera equipment because he was not permitted to bring a film crew. AFI records that he used a right-angle viewfinder to secretly photograph subjects his official Soviet guides did not want filmed.VIEW THIS POSTER: See the current price and availability in our Vintage Movie Poster Collection.

Behind the High Wall

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-132 — BEHIND THE HIGH WALL
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YEAR: 1956
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: “The untold story of the Big House prison break!”
DIRECTOR: Abner Biberman
CAST: Tom Tully, Sylvia Sidney, Betty Lynn, John Gavin, John Larch, Barney Phillips
SCREENPLAY: Harold Jack Bloom
PRODUCER: Stanley Rubin
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Maury Gertsman
GENRE: Film Noir / Crime / Drama / Prison Film
POSTER PRINTER: F. Cunningham & Co. Pty. Ltd.
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

Behind the High Wall is a 1956 Universal-International film noir centred on a violent prison break, a corrupt warden and an innocent prisoner who becomes caught in the aftermath.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: Classic 1950s Australian Daybill printed predominantly in brown against an off-white background. The artwork depicts three escaping prisoners running from the prison walls, with a getaway car and illustrated portrait of Sylvia Sidney below. The hand-drawn imagery and huge block BEHIND THE HIGH WALL title give it a strong pulp crime/noir appearance.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: Particularly interesting as an early John Gavin film. The AFI records Behind the High Wall as Gavin's film debut and notes that Universal publicity still referred to him by his birth surname, Golenor. The film was partly shot at the Sheriff's Wayside Honor Rancho in California and was based on the same story previously adapted by Universal as The Big Guy in 1939.

VIEW THIS POSTER: See the current price and availability in our Vintage Movie Poster Collection.

Thunder Bay

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>BB17-135 — THUNDER BAY
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YEAR: 1953
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Universal-International Pictures
TAGLINE: No tagline appears on this Australian Daybill
DIRECTOR: Anthony Mann
CAST: James Stewart, Joanne Dru, Gilbert Roland, Dan Duryea, Marcia Henderson, Jay C. Flippen
SCREENPLAY: Gil Doud and John Michael Hayes
PRODUCER: Aaron Rosenberg
MUSIC: Frank Skinner
CINEMATOGRAPHY: William H. Daniels
GENRE: Adventure / Drama
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

Thunder Bay is a 1953 Technicolor adventure drama starring James Stewart as an oil engineer whose plans to establish an offshore drilling operation bring him into conflict with a Louisiana fishing community. It was directed by Anthony Mann during his celebrated run of collaborations with Stewart.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: Strikingly minimalist Australian Daybill printed almost entirely in turquoise blue against white. The design features a small illustrated oil worker holding equipment above the Thunder Bay title, with the four principal stars presented in tall condensed lettering. Its restrained Australian artwork is dramatically different from the full-colour Reynold Brown artwork used on the American campaign.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: Thunder Bay was one of the important James Stewart–Anthony Mann collaborations, made during the same period as their acclaimed Westerns. The film also has an interesting technical place in cinema history: its 1953 New York premiere was used by Universal-International to demonstrate its widescreen presentation and stereophonic sound system.

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