Film
Captain America
1990
UK Quad / Single Sided / (30" x 40")
UK / British
Near mint minus; originally rolled (as issued)
Albert Pyun
Bill Mumy, Darren McGavin, Matt Salinger, Melinda Dillon, Michael Nouri, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox
Incredibly rare, original UK quad movie poster for Albert Pyun’s 1990 Marvel super hero actioner “Captain America”. One of the best images of Captain America I have seen with close up artwork made to resemble a comic book cover. A stunning visual delight of pomp and colour. Having a limited British release, this is scarce and presented in excellent rolled (as issued) unrestored high grade condition. It really is a beautiful looking piece. Highly collectable, it represents a fabulous opportunity to own very early Marvel movie memorabilia that will appeal to both the comic book fan and poster collector.
Trivia: Dolph Lundgren and Arnold Schwarzenegger were up for the role of Captain America. Schwarzenegger’s accent lost him the role with Lundgren busy filming The Punisher(1989), about another Marvel Comics character.
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
“Captain America‘s” very low-budget might not do its larger-than-life plotting any favours, but still I found it to be somewhat enjoyable comic-book madness by film-maker Albert Pyun. Its B-grade camp, which looks much older than it is like something out of the 70s. While ambitious, the half-hearted execution seems to stumble through it and really does hold it back. Some familiar names turn up in the cast some you wonder why; like Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty. Matt Salinger as Captain America/Steve Rogers is a little stiff, but Scott Paulin lives it up as his disfigured arch-criminal the Red Skull. Also popping are Michael Nouri and a lively Darren McGavin. The formulaic plot is just as bumpy, as the film’s pacing. More interest lurks within its early sequences (setting up the origins of our hero / villain), before the narrative’s structure actually finds itself in modern times. At times it can meander (especially during the mid-section where Captain America is coming to grips with the situation he finds himself in) and the melodramatics are particularly dull, but the confrontations between the Red Skull and Captain America are colourfully staged. Also there are one or two decent action set-pieces. However some moments are truly under-lit. Pyun’s direction is limited, but he makes good use of locations especially when it hits its European setting. Special effects come off completely hokey with their daft delivery. No way is it successful in making it work, but I expected much worse and came away quite diverted by this blotchy B-grade superhero fare. Had this film been left with a bigger budget and gotten a big theatrical release it could very well have made Matt Salinger a star and been the start of a potentially great franchise to rival the current Marvel Cinematic Universe, Superman, Batman et al.
Trade Address:
Vintage Movie Posters (UK) Limited
The Malthouse
The Broadway
Old Amersham
HP7 0HL
© 2024 Vintage Movie Posters
Registered Office Address: Vintage Movie Posters (UK) Limited, Aston House, Cornwall Avenue, London N3 1LF GB
Registered Company No: 07664517
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.
All photographs and images used on our site are photographs of the actual poster/item you are buying, we do not use stock photographs.
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 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 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
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.
