Film
Madhouse (1974)
1974
UK Quad / Single Sided / (30" x 40")
UK
Very Fine; originally folded (as issued)
James Clark
Adrienne Corri, Peter Cushing, Michael Parkinson, Natasha Pyne, Robert Quarry, Vincent Price
“If Stark Terror Were Ecstasy… living here would be sheer bliss”…A very rare original country of origin film poster from Amicus Productions for the 1974 Vincent Price horror “Madhouse”. Certainly striking with some great horror imagery this UK quad for the Samuel Z. Arkoff’s presentation is a very rare find in such excellent unrestored condition. Originally folded (as issued) the largely black & white design is a great example of ensemble, horror genre artwork from the early 1970’s.”As they say in horror movies, you will come to a bad end”.
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“Do you dare spend an evening seeing the MADHOUSE ?”…The legendary Vincent Price lands himself the plumb part of veteran horror star Paul Toombes, who returns to acting after spending several years in a sanitarium. Toombes has trouble distinguishing between himself and his most popular creepy role of Dr. Death. Someone starts committing a series of murders while dressed up as Dr. Death. Is Toombes the killer? Or is it someone else? Director Jim Clark, working from a clever script and inspired by Ken Levisan and Greg Morrison, pokes plenty of sly sardonic fun at Price’s famous sinister horror star persona, expertly mines a wickedly amusing line in sharp sarcastic humor (the barbed digs at ruthless and selfish showbiz types are especially spot-on), and does a sound job of creating and maintaining a good degree of spooky mysterious atmosphere. Moreover, the able acting from a bang-up cast helps out a lot: the always terrific Peter Cushing as Toombes’ loyal writer friend Herbert Flay, Robert Quarry as sleazy producer Oliver Quayle, Adrienne Corri as the bitter, unhinged, and grotesquely disfigured Faye Carstairs Flay, Natasha Pyne as sweet PR specialist Julia Wilson, Linda Hayden as brash opportunistic aspiring actress Elizabeth Peters, and Michael Parkinson as a hearty TV interviewer. The generous use of choice clips from such vintage 60’s Roger Corman chillers as “House of Usher” and “The Haunted Palace” greatly enhances the considerable macabre merriment. Although they only appear in a few scenes with each other, it’s nonetheless a real treat to see horror icons Price and Cushing acting in a movie together. The ending is deliciously nutty and ironic. Ray Parslow’s polished cinematography gives the picture an impressive glossy look. Douglas Gamley’s spirited shivery score hits the shuddery spot. An immensely entertaining fright flick.
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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.
