Absolute Beginners

Absolute Beginners

£50.00

“The Sounds…The Moves…The Style…The Magic…The Musical…Welcome to the world of your dreams!”

Energetic (to say the least), Bold, brash, OTT with eye popping colours…it can only be a film poster from the 1980’s ? Designed by Tracy Drew with finished artwork by David Scutt for Julien Temple’s teenage coming of age musical extravaganza “Absolute Beginners” this is a rare original country of origin 1986 UK quad film poster. Lively, all-singing and dancing poster with amazing detailed artwork; I particularly like the jazz trumpeter close up-very cool ! …Originally folded (as issued) this excellent example presents exceptionally well and represents a very rare piece of collectable memorabilia from one of British cinema’s quirkiest films.

Year

1986

Size/Type

UK Quad / Single Sided / (30" x 40")

Country of Origin

UK

Condition

Very Fine plus; originally folded (as issued)

Director

Julien Temple

Actor/Actress

Crepe Suzette, David Bowie, Eddie O'Connell, Eigth Wonder, Gil Evans, James Fox, Jerry Dammers, Patsy Kensit, Ray Davies, Sade, Style Council

In stock

Categories: All Products, Music Tags: 1950's, absolute, absolute beginners, beginners, british, Crepe Suzette, dance, David Bowie, David Scutt, Eddie O'Connell, Ei, Gil Evans, James Fox, jazz, Jerry Dammers, london, music, Patsy Kensit, quad, Ray Davies, Sade, soho, Style Council, teenagers, Tracey Drew, uk

Film Description

Absolute Beginners Movie Poster

“The music, the movement, the romance, the passion . . . all explodes on the BIG SCREEN”

“Absolute Beginners“ is a movie that, more than any other I can think of, is about style over substance. Several aspects of the movie hint at its essential shallowness. First, the director, Julien Temple, had recently gone from working with the Sex Pistols to directing videos for Janet Jackson. This was the era of Janet’s big dance production videos and the influence can definitely be seen in the movie. Second, they created an old-fashioned musical out of a book by Colin MacInnes, a radical bohemian English novelist – it’s the equivalent of turning “On the Road” into a Disney musical cartoon. Last and probably least, my favorite communist punk – Paul Weller – showed up with his new band Style Council to give us a happy-sad little pop tune about losing your girlfriend…What the movie lacks in depth it more than makes up for in style. The above-mentioned Weller tune (“Have you Ever Had it Blue”) is my personal favorite of the post-punk new pop wave of the eighties. Bowie’s performance is great; all the musical numbers are choreographed and executed – well – fabulously, from David Bowie dancing on a giant typewriter to Sade just dripping sophistication and sensuality on the stage of a mock-seedy basement nightclub. Even if the direction misses the seriousness of the source material, it really captures the musical essence of each of the many and diverse songs. Design & Art Direction: Tracy Drew Illustration: David Scutt

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Vintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria

Mint
A poster that has never been used or displayed and may show the most minor signs of age and wear. The poster should have no holes or tears.

Near Mint
A generally unused poster with fresh, saturated colors. May have minimal tears at folds. Has no significant holes, no paper loss, may have minor tears along edges, may have fine pin holes.

Very Fine
A poster with bright colour and crisp overall appearance. It may have very general signs of use including slight fold separation and fold wear. It may have pin holes or very minor tears. This is the highest grade allowed for a poster that has been restored either on linen or on paper.

Fine
A poster with good colors and overall clean appearance. It may have minor tears small paper loss and minor stains. It may have some fold seperation.

Good
An average poster with overall fresh color. May have tears, minor paper loss, minor hazing. Paper may be brittle due to age, may have minor stains. May have a small amount of writing in an unobtrusive place. May have medium or major restoration.

Fair
A poster with faded colors and brittle paper, showing significant signs of use. May have tears and paper loss. May have tape, writing, stains in image area. In need of restoration or had major restoration.

Poor
A poster that is worn, torn, and/or damaged. May have staining, cracking, dry rot, and/or large tears. May be heavily soiled, may have pieces missing. In need of major restoration.

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Most Popular Poster Types

US Posters

LOBBY CARD
11 x 14" printed on heavy stock paper. Used as display in theatre lobbies. Originally made in sets of eight. Some sets have a title card, which contains credits and artwork, essentially a mini-poster. The remaining seven cards are coloured photographic credits and poster artwork showing different scenes from the movie.

WINDOW CARD
14 x 22" printed on heavy stock paper with the top 4-6 inches usually left blank for the local cinema owner to fill in the cinema and the date it was due to play. Largely discontinued during the 1970's.

HALF SHEET
22 x 28" printed on heavy stock paper. The image displayed is normally a smaller version of the main poster, although some do have different artworks and sometimes come in two versions.

INSERT
14 x 36" printed on heavy stock paper. Inserts usually have the same artwork as a one sheet. Popular with collectors since they are smaller and easier to frame. Normally come tri folded or rolled.

STYLE Y/FORTY BY SIXTY
40 x 60" printed on heavy stock paper. Rare since they were primarily used for major motion pictures only. Designed to be used outside the theatre, on an easel, normally at a drive-in movie theatre.

ONE-SHEET
27 x 41" printed on paper. This is the most common size of poster, intended to be displayed in a glass "marquee" case. It is the most sought after size by collectors. Since the 1980's most posters are sent to the theatre rolled and maybe slightly smaller measuring 27" by 40" and with the advent of backlit light boxes a growing number of modern movie posters are available double-sided and the more traditional single-sided.

THREE-SHEET
41 x 81" printed on paper. These were printed on two or three separate sheets designed to overlap, few survive. Used for larger advertising spaces, normally posted on walls, perfect for huge movie theatres the drive-in, where people could see them from a distance. From the 1970's on, three-sheets were sometimes printed in one piece and issued as "international" versions to be used abroad.

BRITISH Posters

BRITISH QUAD
30 x 40" Most common poster size used in the UK. British Quads are horizontal and may have different artwork to the US one sheet. Like a US one sheet they normally come in two versions. Like a US one sheet they are usually supplied single-sided or more commonly now as a double sided poster.

BRITISH ONE-SHEET
27 X 40", printed on paper. Very rarely used size.

ITALIAN Posters

ITALIAN LOCANDINA
13 x 28" six inches shorter than the US insert, very nice size to frame. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.

ITALIAN PHOTOBUSTA
18 x 26" Glossy, high quality, used as lobby cards in Italy. Size may vary, either vertical or horizontal format. There are also double Photobusta or mini Photobusta.

2-FOGLIO (DUE)
(DUE): 39 x 55" This is the standard poster size used in Italy. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.

4-FOGLIO
(QUATTRO) 55 x 79" Very large Italian poster printed in two pieces, often contains very beautiful artwork.

FRENCH Posters

FRENCH
47 x 63" (GRANDE) or 24 x 33" (PETITE) French movie posters normally come with different artwork to either the US or the UK. Like the Italian's some of the artwork is extrememly beautiful.