Film
Paths of Glory
1957
UK Quad (30" x 40") Single Sided, Printed in England by DISPLAY PRODUCTIONS LTD. LONDON in assoc. with ELECTRIC (Modern) PRINTING CO. LTD
UK / British
Fine plus -Very Fine minus ; originally folded (as issued)
Stanley Kubrick
Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Joe Turkel, Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Richard Anderson, Wayne Morris
“Paths of Glory” is Stanley Kubrick’s first real masterpiece in what would be a long line of subsequent masterpieces and I don’t believe there are many people who can deny how powerful this film is. Through the editing, camera movement, incredibly realistic dialogue, and a now more fully realized use of irony, Kubrick creates an unforgettable anti-war parable. It deserved a striking poster and it certainly got one with this beautifully presented film poster finished in the distinct stone-litho style for Stanley Kubrick’s 1957 (anti) war drama…“Paths of Glory”. The Film’s star Kirk Douglas takes centre stage in this powerful and impressive UK movie poster from first year of release 1957. With its country unique imagery British paper for this film is easily the scarcest making this UK quad film poster a real find; it is incredibly rare and highly sought after by Kubrick collectors and War genre film fans. Originally folded (as issued) this remarkable unrestored example has stood the test of time well and still displays to very good effect with only a few areas of minor handling and age wear. The colours are are incredibly bright and vibrant and perfectly complemented by the stone-litho printing style used here. Genuinely very, very rare this original film poster represents a fantastic piece of highly collectable movie memorabilia for a film that is considered a true classic in every sense of the word.
“HOOPER” is just one of those film posters that makes you go WOW ! especially if you’re a fan of Burt Reynolds (who still holds the record as Hollywood’s No.1 box-office superstar for five years in a row starting in 1978) or American muscle cars like the Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am beautifully rendered here (in full action mode) by Brian Bysouth. This country unique (British) design is easily the best looking paper from Hal Needham’s OTT auto-action fest and is very popular across a wide range of collectors. The originally folded (as issued) UK quad film poster offered here is from first year of release in Britain 1978 and displays and presents to excellent effect and represents a first class example of 1970’s nostalgia and desirable original movie memorabilia for the screen’s biggest star of the period.
TRIVIA: Although not the car in the poster Burt Reynolds sold his personal Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am at auction in 2014 for a whopping $450,000
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
At only 29 years of age and in only his second major studio release, Stanley Kubrick showed the world that he was a force to be reckoned with. By the time he died 42 years later his films were epochal events waited for breathlessly by his large band of devotees who considered him a director without equal. He seldom disappointed them.
“Paths of Glory“ is set in World War I amidst the incredibly destructive and futile trench warfare between France and Germany. Kirk Douglas plays Frenchman Colonel Dax, who is ordered to make an impossible assault on a heavily-fortified enemy position. The only reason this charge is being made is that his commanding general, played by George Macready, believes that capturing the position will earn him a promotion. When the assault does not go forward under heavy enemy bombardment, the general is infuriated and demands that three men be arbitrarily chosen to stand trial for cowardice, an offense punishable by death. Col. Dax defends these men at their court-martial.
The battle and trial scenes are about as good as have ever been filmed and the high level of tension is sustained throughout the movie. After the film’s climax has occurred, Col. Dax goes looking for his troops and finds them relaxing at a cafe. What he and the viewer witness there is possibly the most affecting scene I’ve ever seen on screen.
Looking at this film in perspective, it’s easy to see Kubrick’s trademarks even at this early stage of his career. The attention to the composition of his shots reflects his background as a still photographer and foreshadows his other great films to come. I find myself most impressed today with the way he could handle a dramatic story like this one without any innovative techniques or unusual special effects to hide behind, then turn around and make such totally different films like “2001“ and “Dr. Strangelove“. Other films like “The Shining“ and “Barry Lyndon“ combined a strong story line with breakthrough film techniques. His versatility astonishes me.
Adolphe Menjou also stars as the general who convinces Dax’s superior officer to risk the ill-fated charge. Ralph Meeker, Timothy Carey and Joe Turkel give strong performances as the men on trial. Turkel turns up 23 years later in another Kubrick film, “The Shining“ playing the bartender.
You can take your pick: “Paths of Glory“ can rightly be described as one of the greatest war movies of all, or one of the great anti-war films, or as one of Stanley Kubrick‘s best. Or simply one of the best, period.
Trade Address:
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Old Amersham
HP7 0HL
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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.
