Film
Just a Gigolo
1976
UK Quad / Single Sided / (30" x 40")
British / UK
Near Mint minus -Very Fine plus; originally rolled (as issued)
David Hemmings
Kim Novak, Maria Schell, Sydne Rome, Curt Jurgens, David Bowie, Marlene Dietrich
“He has no skills and can only find menial, low-paying jobs. He decides to become a gigolo to lonely rich women.”
Supreme example of Tom Chantrell’s stunning artwork; an extremely rare original 1978 UK Quad film poster for the David Bowie drama “Just a Gigolo”. This film was perfect for Bowie (you could genuinely believe he was a 1920s pseudo aristocrat) as the extravagantly named Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski. Tom Chantrell’s artwork (unique to the British release) places Bowie centre stage, cleverly portrayed in black and white whilst the supporting cast, including Kim Novak and Marlene Dietrich (her last movie appearance) are featured in full colour. With only minimal handling wear, this originally rolled (as issued), unrestored example displays to beautiful effect. The deep black background contrasted with vibrant colours makes for a truly impressive piece. One of Bowie’s most stylish movie posters and a fantastic piece of highly collectable original movie and music memorabilia and a perfect showcase for Chantrell’s incredible talent at catching an actors likeness.
Trivia: The last on-screen appearance by Marlene Dietrich. German press reports claimed she was paid $250,000 for two days’ work.
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
“Just a Gigolo“ is one of the most unusual films I have ever seen. It’s an offbeat, sensitively filmed look at Weimar Germany in a sort of parallel-universe version. “Cabaret” it is not! If you ever get a chance to see it, I don’t want to spoil the ending for you . . . but when you see it, you’ll say to yourself, “Of course! Why didn’t I foresee that coming” David Bowie plays a sort of innocent ne’er-do-well discharged from the German army after World War I and drifting through existence; he can’t find anything to do with himself except hire himself out as a “gigolo” for rich, proto-Eurotrash war widows in ballrooms where they “dance to forget”. Bowie’s father is a once-domineering tyrant who has been silenced by a stroke. Bowie tries to break the news to him that he has descended so far as to play the gigolo, a betrayal of his father’s macho ideals, but Dad only sits in stony silence, a disturbing scene. Bowie plays a poor lost soul. As Western civilization decays all around him, a sinister character stalks him and tries to gain control over him; this bloke is vaguely homosexual (only suggested), and one of his lines is a real groaner of a double-entendre: “We will have you in the end!” Marlene Dietrich is the center of romantic gravity in this story; she sadly, sweetly tells Bowie the raison d’etre of forlorn women dancing with gigolos in the ballrooms — the only way to assuage loss and stave off despair. Then she performs the song “Just a Gigolo”, bringing out all the heartbreak from its depths. The end of the film is dark and truly chilling
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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.
