Film
Kiss of the Vampire – “Il Mistero del Castello”
1963
Italy 2-Folio / (39" x 55")
Italy
Very Fine; originally folded now conservation linen backed
Don Sharp
Barry Warren, Clifford Evans, Edward de Souza, Jennifer Daniel, Noel Willman
“Giant devil Bats…summoned from the caves of Hell to destroy the lust of the Vampires!”…A truly marvellous original 2-Folio Italian film poster for Hammer’s 1963 production “Kiss of the Vampire” (Il Mistero del Castello). The cult of vampirism never looked so enticing as evidenced here with this country unique (Italy) artwork. The colours really are vivid and the artwork (un-credited; if anyone knows who may have painted this please email me) quite stunning, particularly the vivacious and enticing female vampire…One of the very best early 1960’s non-Dracula, European Hammer vampire posters. With minimal restoration & excellent conservation linen backing this displays very well & would be a fantastic piece of rare Hammer horror movie poster memorabilia.
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
“When the devil attacks a man or woman with this foul disease of the vampire the unfortunate human being can do one of two things. Either he can seek God through the church and pray for absolution or he can persuade himself that his filthy perversion is some kind of new and wonderful experience to be shared by the favoured few”…After the Horror of Dracula, Christopher Lee refused to play Count Dracula for some years for fear of being typecast. During those “dark” years, so to speak, Hammer produced two vampire movies, The Brides of Dracula and Kiss of the Vampire. Both movies principally revolved around the same themes explored in Hammer’s first vampire tale. Both were about young persons, in particular a striking and attractive woman, in peril from the forces of evil. Both had a classic contest of wills between the good and evil forces. Both are exceptional films filled with wonderful acting, precise direction, beautiful and haunting sets, and lovely scores. Kiss of the Vampire has no big stars and is the first directorial effort of Don Sharp, yet despite these “failings”, as some might say, it is a beautiful and intense film crammed with scary moments, James Bernard’s haunting melodies, and typical Hammer gothic sets. The opening of the film grabs the viewer into the film and allows for a rather lengthy exposition. The main characters are personable enough to be liked and cared for, and the Van Helsing type role, played with aplomb by Clifford Evans, is subtle enough yet strong as well. The vampires themselves are the weak link, as they are not very formidable, having little visible power. Notwithstanding, Kiss of the Vampire is a small treasure to behold, and the climactic scene at the end is one of Hammer’s better climaxes. A,G.A.F. FIRENZE
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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.
