Film
The Challenge
1982
UK Quad / (30″ x 40″) / Single Sided / Printed in England by W.E.Berry Ltd. Bradford
UK / British
Very Fine plus – Near Mint minus / Originally Folded (as issued) – this poster has been stored flat for quite a long time and the foldlines are very “soft”
John Frankenheimer
Donna Kei Benz, Scott Glenn, Toshiro Mifune
Some unusually restrained artwork by Brian Bysouth for this 1982 UK quad film poster for John Frankenheimer’s martial arts action flick “The Challenge”. Lacking Bysouth’s normal attention to fine detail the imagery (unique to the UK quad) is still no less impressive with superb characterisations of the main actors. The original 1982 UK quad movie poster offered here is from first year of release and displays and presents to excellent effect. Originally folded (as issued) the colours are bright and unfaded and Bysouth’s art dramatic and exciting. With hardly a defect of note this beautiful folded unrestored film poster is in investment grade condition and a fine example of rare and collectable original movie memorabilia.
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
Fantastic intelligent action flick from a master of the genre, John Frankenheimer (check out “The Manchurian Candidate“ or “Ronin“). Bottom-of-the-barrel boxer Scott Glenn is recruited to escort a valuable Samurai sword and is thrown into a blood feud between two brothers who both lay claim to the blade, which is one of a set of twin weapons called the Equals. One brother is a rich gangster/businessman, the other a venerable sword master (Toshiro Mifune at his best)who seeks to uphold the family honor symbolized by the heirloom swords. After a couple of bloody ambushes Glenn says “sayonara” to save his own skin, but returns due in part to his attraction to Mifune’s luscious daughter, and from his own desire to conquer his limitations and become the warrior that Mifune sees within him. Ultimately he is the old man’s last hope and after extensive training and a bit of “vision quest” consciousness-raising confronts the martial-arts expert mobster on his own turf. The resulting office sword battle is bloody and no-holds-barred and Glenn finds not only his own honor but the respect and affection of the aging warrior who believed in him. I’ve followed different movie martial-arts styles since way back when and this was the first time I recall seeing the impressive handhold and body-throws of the Aikido style championed by Steven Seagal (small wonder since it was he who created many of the fight scenes for this one, prior to becoming an action star himself). I knew a few martial arts people when this film was released, and they were all impressed especially by the training and culture-clash sequences and by the relationship between the students and their master played by Mifune. “The Challenge” has been shown on TV under a number of lame-assed alternate titles but it’s still a great flick. The sex scene between Glenn and the girl ain’t bad either! Don’t let anyone kid you, this is an action film and a half, with not only hand-to-hand martial arts but dazzling swordfights and gun battles.
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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.
