TITLE: The Jerk
YEAR OF MOVIE RELEASE: 1979
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION COMPANY: Universal Pictures / Aspen Film Society
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Cinema International Corporation (CIC)
TAGLINE: “A rags to riches to rags story.”
ADDITIONAL POSTER TEXT: “He was a poor black sharecropper’s son who never dreamed he was adopted.”
DIRECTOR: Carl Reiner
CAST: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams and Jackie Mason
PRODUCERS: William E. McEuen and David V. Picker
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Victor J. Kemper
SCREENPLAY: Steve Martin, Carl Gottlieb and Michael Elias
STORY: Steve Martin and Carl Gottlieb
POSTER PRINTER: Robert Burton Printers Pty. Ltd.
FORMAT: Australian One Sheet
GENRE: Comedy
COLLECTOR’S NOTE
The Jerk marked Steve Martin’s first starring feature-film role, bringing his distinctive comic persona to the character of Navin Johnson. Martin also contributed to both the story and screenplay, working with director Carl Reiner on what became his feature-film breakthrough.
The poster’s collection of everyday objects connects directly with Navin’s comic attachment to his possessions. Rather than presenting wealth or glamour, the campaign shows its star in a worn dressing gown, struggling to carry his belongings—a visual expression of the “rags to riches to rags” premise.
POSTER DESIGN FEATURES
A bright yellow background frames a full-length photographic image of Steve Martin in a grey dressing gown, with trousers gathered around his ankles. He awkwardly carries a chair, lampshade and assorted belongings, creating an immediately recognisable comic silhouette.
Large black STEVE MARTIN lettering fills the lower-left section above the red, handwritten-style THE JERK title. The introductory text sits at the upper left, balancing Martin’s figure on the right.
A solid red lower panel carries the supporting cast names in tall white lettering, followed by the screenplay and production credits. A fine red inner border, broad white margin, Australian M classification and Robert Burton printer’s credit complete the design.