Film
The Great Escape – “La Grande Fuga”
1963
Italian 4 Folio (55" x 78" complete)
Italy
Very fine minus – Fine plus; originally folded -presented in two sections as originally supplied to Italian theatres
John Sturges
Angus Lennie, Charles Bronson, David McCallum, Donald Pleasence, Gordon Jackson, Hannes Messemer, James Coburn, James Donald, James Garner, John Leyton, Richard Attenborough, Steve McQueen
“Herr Bartlett ! Your German is good. And I hear, also, your French ?…Your arms…UP !”…Dell L’Orco’s magnificent artwork for this original 1963 Italian 4 Folio film poster for “The Great Escape – La Grande Fuga” was unique to Italy, which is a shame as it is such a stunning image, hinting at a much darker tone than the commonly known poster work for this movie of Frank MCcarthy. Very rare these hardly ever turn up for sale…Roger Bartlett “Big X” (Richard Attenbrough), Hendley-“The Scrounger” (James Garner) and of course heading the group Hilts-“Cooler King” (Steve McQueen) are instantly recognisable although heavily shadowed…A very solid example of a large format Italian poster…Original film memorabilia of this rarity and artistic quality do not come along very often. This is a very nice piece, a real eye-catcher !
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
“This is a true story. Although the characters are composites of real men, and time and place have been compressed, every detail of the GREAT ESCAPE is the way it really happened”….Back in 1963, a war film arrived on the silver screen which set the standard for all dramas which followed. True there were other great war films such as The War Lover and Twelve O’Clock High, but none of them became the launching point for so many of Hollywood’s great screen stars. Paul Brickhill wrote the original true story upon which this film is based on. Furthermore, with Elmer Berstein’s rousing musical score, this movie then becomes nothing short of genuine classic. The saga of “The Great Escape” is wound around the actual war time experiences of American and British Airmen, who’d been captured and sent to what the German High Command called ‘An Escape proof’ prisoner of War Camp. Upon seeing the assortment of Hollywood elite, one can not expect anything but great drama and action adventure from the entire cast. Steve McQueen, who plays Capt. Virgil Hilts, “The Cooler King” leads an all star line up which consists of James Garner as Hendley “The Scrounger”, Richard Attenborough as Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett, James Donald as Group Capt. Ramsey “The Senior British Officer”, Charles Bronson is memorable as Danny Velinski “The Tunnel King”, Donald Pleasence as Blythe, James Coburn as Louis Sedgwick, David McCallum as Ashley-Pitt and Gordon Jackson as MacDonald. They are imprisoned and guarded by Germany’s elite guards, commanded by Col. Von Luger (Hannes Messemer) who has been personally selected for the task. Since it’s inception, this film has garnered a commanding cult following. It’s status is notable as the vehicle which literally propels McQueen up into his stardom. Vecchioni & Guadagno, Via del Casale de Merode 8, Roma
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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.
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.
