Film
National Lampoon’s Vacation
1983
UK Quad / Single Sided / (30" x 40")
UK / British
Very Fine plus; originally folded (as issued)
Harold Ramis
Beverly D'Angelo, Chevy Chase, Christie Brinkley, Imogene Coca, John Candy, Randy Quaid
“Every summer Chevy Chase takes his family on a little trip. This year he went too far”
Written by John Hughes and Directed by Harold Ramis National Lampoon’s Vacation is one of the strongest comedies of the 1980’s and stands head and shoulders above anything else from National Lampoon (Animal House runs it close) before or since while following the mishaps that befall the Griswold family on the way to the mythical theme park Wally World. The movie poster that accompanied the release is one of the most memorable and best of the comedy genre; a magnificent piece designed by leading fantasy artist Boris Vallejo….The original 1983 UK quad movie poster offered here was originally folded (as issued) & presents in excellent original unrestored condition with great colours and outstanding artwork. Very rare in such fine condition it represents very collectable & desirable original film memorabilia from a film lauded as a modern comedy classic with iconic artwork that is sure to impress.
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Vintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
National Lampoon’s Vacation Movie Poster
“Oh spare me, Clark! I know your brand of family fun. Tomorrow you’ll probably kill the desk clerk, hold up a McDonalds, and drive us 1,000 miles out of the way to see the world’s largest pile of mud !”
Clark Griswold ignores his family’s pleas to go to Hawaii for their summer vacation and opts for the Walley World resort in California instead. His long-suffering wife Ellen wants to fly, but Clark would rather drive and spend time with the kids he hardly ever sees.
Sounds like a simple journey from A to B right? Wrong! The Griswolds are a gene pool of absolute disaster and nothing…NOTHING goes right…ever. The fun begins with Clark being forced to accept a disgusting metallic pea-green family truckster instead of a cool-blue sports model with CB and optional fun pack. It’s literally the most hideous car in the history of automobiles.
As the lengthy days on the road pass, Clark is ripped-off by street hustlers, guilt-tripped out of $500 from his hick cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid in what is, begrudgingly, his most popular role), ripped-off by a hick sheriff/mechanic, and tempted by gorgeous blonde (Christie Brinkley) in a red Ferrari. Though Ellen doesn’t take kindly to anyone with an eye on her Sparky (actually D’Angelo’s pet name for Chevy Chase and not something that was scripted).
Based on John Hughes‘ ill-fated trip to Disneyworld when he was five-years-old, Vacation brought us Chevy Chase’s most famous character (sorry Fletch) and most successful series. He has absolutely perfect chemistry with Beverly D’Angelo, who, with her large eyeballs and perfect timing, is an under-rated comic actress in her own right.
Although it launched a series of equals I have to say the original is the best as it has a really dark edge that none of the others have. There’s virtually nothing in Vacation that isn’t funny. Harold Ramis, fresh off the absolute anarchy of Caddyshack, keeps a tight, sadistic reign on the disastrous road trip. If you have a dark sense of humor and enjoy evil comedy then you’ll love Vacation. It was one of those that helped turn me into the misanthropic, dysfunctional, ghoulish misfit that I am today.
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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.
