Film
Dead Zone
UK Quad (30" x 40") Single Sided
UK / British
Near mint minus ; originally folded (as issued)
David Cronenberg
Anthony Zerbe, Brooke Adams, Christopher Walken, Colleen Dewhurst, Herbert Lom, Martin Sheen, Nicholas Campbell, Tom Skerritt
“In his mind, he has the power to see the future. In his hands, he has the power to change it.”
Original UK Quad film poster for DavidCronberg’s 1983 sci-fi, horror, thriller “The Dead Zone”. Stephen King’s bestseller (his first to hit #1 and still one his most successful) is stylishly brought to the cinema screen by Cronenberg. Renowned for the more gory, body horror approach to film making, this is very much a clever and restrained adaption – and in my opinion is far better for it. Taking inspiration from one of the key scenes in the movie, British advertising agency FEREF have created an eye-catching design for the UK marketing campaign poster (imagery that is actually unique to the UK). Folded (as issued) this stunning example displays to excellent effect (probably unused). It represents a very high quality piece of Cinema memorabilia from a truly groundbreaking, influential film maker and the most successful American writer in history.
Trivia: This movie doesn’t explain the meaning of the phrase Dead Zone like the book does. Stephen King was going off old theories that people only use 10% of their brains, and that we haven’t even unlocked the secrets of the other 90%; and that when Johnny was in his coma his brain had to create new pathways to get around the paralyzed part of his mind. So new pathways were created in the Dead Zone, that 90% that people normally don’t use; and this enabled him to develop powers of ESP and second sight.
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I’m a great admirer of David Cronenberg, and “The Dead Zone” could well be his most underrated movie. The problem is that it’s just not very Cronenbergesque, and being “Deprave” Cronenberg’s first mainstream Hollywood movie, and coming hot off his provocative and mind blowing “Videodrome”, many people regard it as some kind of sell out. I really cannot agree. If you forget your preconceived idea of what Cronenberg movies SHOULD be, and just accept it for what it is, you’ll see that it is a very well made and well acted thriller, and is almost impossible to fault. In my opinion it joins Kubrick’s “The Shining” and De Palma’s “Carrie” as the most effective Stephen King adaptations to date. Christopher Walken is on top form here, and I think gives one of his very best performances. The supporting cast are also excellent, the lovely Brooke Adams, horror veteran Herbert Lom, Martin Sheen, Tom Skerritt, Anthony Zerbe, and Cronenberg regular Nicholas Campbell, who is involved in the movies most unforgettable sequence. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve watched “The Dead Zone” over the years, but it never fails to hook me in, and I always get something more out of Walken’s performance every time I view it. This movie may not be typical, body horror fare from David Cronenberg, but it is one of his most straightforward and entertaining films.
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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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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.
