All

Performance

£1,195.00

Film

Performance

Additional information

Year

1970 (1979 Re-Release)

Size/Type

UK Quad (30" x 40") Single Sided, Printed in England by W.E.Berry Ltd. Bradford

Country of Origin

UK / British

Condition

Very Fine Plus / Originally Folded (as issued)

Director

Donald Cammell, Nicolas Roeg

Actor/Actress

Anita Pallenberg, Ann Sidney, James Fox, John Bindon, Michele Breton, Mick Jagger

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“This film was ten years ahead of its time. Now, you’re almost ready for…PERFORMANCE”

An iconic piece of British cinema and Rolling Stones memorabilia a country of origin UK quad film poster for Donald Cammell’s and Nicolas Roeg’s 1979 re-release for the psychedelic cult classic “Performance”. With a more stylised design, the scarce Quad for the film’s 1979 re-release. A clever tagline makes a point of the mixed and controversial initial reception to the original 1970 release but by the late 1970’s the film was ripe for a critical reappraisal & although not hugely successful developed a real cult following. Imagery really is a stunning and was only ever displayed in Britain for the re-release.  Although the artwork has been accredited to Vic Fair, this is incorrect though as of yet, the artist responsible for this pop-art inspired design, remains unidentified. This gender-bending British film which signalled the end of the 1960s in something of the same way as the Altamont concert – the era of love and peace was morphing into a time of violence and madness, and this movie classically reflects that transition. Much like the earlier 1970 release “Performance” was not a great commercial success in 1979, and was treated more of an independent/arthouse affair than a large studio release, and paper from it has always been somewhat scarce with this version of the British UK quad poster particularly hard to find. Originally folded (as issued) and totally unrestored this particular example displays to excellent effect with a pure white background and bright vivid colours…Despite being a later release this style is the most prized paper from the Movie. A fantastic, very collectable and unique piece of film and rock music memorabilia…“Nothing is true, everything is permitted”

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Film Description

Performance Film Poster

“The only performance that makes it, that makes it all the way, is the one that achieves madness. Am I right ?”

Performance is visually compelling and disturbing look at two diverse sides of 1960s London; the criminal underworld and hippie culture, respectively symbolised by James Fox‘s Chas, the wayward gangster, and Mick Jagger‘s Turner, a semi-retired bisexual rock musician….It’s Chas’ world we are first introduced to during a highly charged furiously paced scene of gangland violence. It soon becomes clear to us that he is not only an outcast to society but also dangerously individual within his own mob circle. On the run from both the law and the mob he takes refuge in a Notting Hill home which he finds is occupied by Turner, his junkie girlfriend, Pherber (Anita Pallenberg), and her French lover, Lucy (Michèle Breton). Turner becomes infatuated with Chas’ violent charisma and his “vital energy” he himself feels he has lost….As the title suggests the film is all about performances. Chas is initiated into Turner’s underground world of drug experimentation and gender bending. Turner’s name in itself is symbolic of the way he tries to play with and turn Chas’ psyche around. It is ultimately the “performance” of Turner which brings the two worlds together, as he poses as Chas’ mobster boss, Harry Flowers (Johnny Shannon), in a scene shot similarly to a modern day music video….Some critics had felt the film lost its way once Chas entered Turner’s world. Yet surely such disorientation is indicative of how the film successfully explores Chas’ own uneasiness in confronting his own subconscious in an alien atmosphere. The film is full of visual flourishes as one might expect from Nicolas Roeg, who had been cinema photographer on films such as Fahrenheit 451. Fox is mesmerising playing out the evolving identities of Chas, whilst Jagger’s persona is exhibited to its full potential. Roeg was again to explore the theme of alienation using a rock star (this time David Bowie) in a more literal sense in his landmark science fiction film The Man Who Fell To Earth.

Vintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria

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.

Most Popular Poster Types

US Posters

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 Posters

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 Posters

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 Posters

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.