£375.00
Film
Great Rock “N” Roll Swindle, The
1980
UK Quad / single sided / (27" x 39.5")
UK
Very Fine minus – would grade near mint minus but for two creases along right edge If linen backed these would disappear; originally rolled
Julien Temple
Glen Matlock, Helen of Troy, Irene Handl, Johnny Rotten, Liz Frazer, Malcolm McLaren, Mary Millington, Nancy Spungen, Paul Cook, Ronald Biggs, Sid Vicious, Steve Jones
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“Young Flesh Required”…Depending on who you believe Julien Temple’s true/untrue story of the rise & fall of the greatest punk band ever; The Sex Pistols in “The Great Rock “N” Roll Swindle”. This original advance (actually produced and distributed in late 1979) 1980 country of origin (UK) quad features infamous “American Express” imagery by Jamie Reid. Embroiled in litigation with the majority of these posters immediately withdrawn and destroyed, very few remain in circulation today. The example offered here was originally rolled (very rare for posters at this time) and displays superbly…Investment grade quality…An incredibly rare piece of music/film/cultural memorabilia***For a more in depth review of this poster and it’s history checkout “Further Poster Information” on the next page***
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“The film that incriminates its audience”…During the Sex Pistols heyday, their manager Malcolm McLaren had an idea to market the band as a noveaux Beatles. From 1976 to 1980, McLaren spent the band’s money trying get the film off the ground. He went through several directors and writers until he finally settled on Julien Temple (a young film-maker). Temple and McLaren himself shot hours and hours of footage, sketches and concert footage. After working on this project for almost four years and with nothing resembling anything like a coherent movie, Temple decided to make a collage out of the footage and re-shot and edited the useful film segments and made a surprisingly entertaining film (considering the tight budget and time restraints). By the time the movie was released, Sid Vicious was dead, John Lydon was in Public Image Limited and Paul Cook and Steve Jones were in a new wave band called the Professionals. Neither of them were even speaking to their former manager. So, at the last minute, Temple decided to make the movie about the rise and fall of the Sex Pistols…One entertaining piece of music history recommended for fans of British punk and the Sex Pistols.
Further Poster Information: Jamie Reid has been held in high esteem within graphic art circles since the early 70’s, for his cut and paste art (Ranson art work) and his input for The Situation Movement….After meeting Malcolm Mclaren at Croydon Art College circa 1964-1968, Jamie wanted to express his desire for art work, especially after viewing a Jackson Pollock exhibition during this influential part of his life….During the Sex Pistols period, Jamie Reid was employed as resident artist for all promo art work supporting the Sex Pistols records and tours and the Malcolm Mclaren / Vivienne Westwood “Sex” shop on London’s Kings Road….The majority of posters Jamie produced for the Sex Pistols; God Save the Queen, Pretty Vacant, Anarchy in the UK have achieved a cult status and become highly collectable, but the rarest with the most gravitas is the “Young Flesh Required” as offered here….During the end of the Pistols regime (1978/79) Mclaren & Reid needed publicity and wanted to shock; remember Ronnie Biggs becoming a Sex Pistol ?….On the back of this Reid produced a poster guaranteed to shock and create a media furore and produced a poster with an image of an American Express card, but it highlighted the record industry, singers and bands as prostitutes and pimps. Word of the poster got thru to American Express who immediately on 15th October 1979 issued an injunction against illegal use of their livery & imagery. Any promotional items featuring the image (record sleeves, posters etc) were to be immediately withdrawn and destroyed….Virgin ended up paying in excess of £50,000 in litigation, but the final word has to go to Virgin owner Richard Branson who sent the following telegram to the offices of American Express…”I will not be using my American Express card this week – Thank you”
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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.