TITLE: First Blood
YEAR OF MOVIE RELEASE: 1982
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION COMPANY: Anabasis Investments N.V.
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow
TAGLINE: “This time he’s fighting for his life.”
DIRECTOR: Ted Kotcheff
CAST: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna and Brian Dennehy
PRODUCER: Buzz Feitshans
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Andrew Laszlo
SCREENPLAY: Michael Kozoll, William Sackheim and Sylvester Stallone
BASED ON: The novel First Blood by David Morrell
MUSIC: Jerry Goldsmith
ARTWORK: Drew Struzan
POSTER PRINTER: M.A.P.S. Litho Pty. Ltd.
FORMAT: Australian One Sheet
GENRE: Action / Thriller
COLLECTOR’S NOTE
First Blood introduced Sylvester Stallone’s John Rambo to cinema audiences, adapting David Morrell’s 1972 novel. Stallone also shares screenplay credit, giving him a creative role beyond his central performance.
This Australian One Sheet features Drew Struzan artwork, linking the film with one of cinema’s most recognised poster illustrators. The campaign places “STALLONE” above the film’s title, emphasising its leading star. A small illustration of the Pan paperback appears in the lower-left credits panel, providing a distinctive tie-in detail for collectors interested in the connection between the novel and its screen adaptation.
POSTER DESIGN FEATURES
An illustrated Sylvester Stallone dominates the composition as John Rambo, wearing a headband and sleeveless top, with an ammunition belt across his chest and a machine gun held diagonally across his body.
Electric-blue lightning cuts through dark storm clouds behind him. Vehicle headlights and smaller pursuing figures appear near the bottom of the scene, reinforcing the atmosphere of pursuit and survival. Warm highlights on Rambo’s face and arms contrast with the cold blue surroundings.
Oversized white STALLONE lettering spans the top above the tagline, while the bold red FIRST BLOOD title anchors the lower artwork. A black credits panel, white outer border, Australian M classification symbol and Roadshow release credit complete the design.