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They Live

£295.00

Film

They Live

Additional information

Year

1988

Size/Type

UK Quad (30" x 40") Single Sided

Country of Origin

British / UK

Condition

Near mint minus – Very fine plus / originally folded (as issued)

Director

John Carpenter

Actor/Actress

Keith David, Meg Foster, Roddy Piper

SOLD - this item is sold. Please browse our currently available stock

“You see them on the street. You watch them on TV. You might even vote for one. You think they’re people just like you. You’re wrong. Dead wrong”

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John Carpenter’s tale of alien occupation is part horror, part Sci-Fi and part social satire, all viewed through dark glasses of Roddy Piper . This original They Live movie poster is probably the scarcest of all the John Carpenter paper from the 80’s and a very rare find in such excellent condition as offered here…The original 1988 UK quad film poster for John Carpenter’s  They Live was originally folded (as issued) & presents in exceptional original unrestored condition with great artwork, colours and deep unfaded black background. Extremely rare this example represents very collectable & desirable original film memorabilia from one of the greatest and most influential director’s ever working in  the sci-fi / horror / action genre.

 

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Film Description

They Live Movie Poster

“The poor and the underclass are growing. Racial justice and human rights are non-existent. They have created a oppressive society and we are the unwitting accomplices.”…So preaches the leader of an underground movement, fighting back against the burgeoning upper class of white elites taking over corporations and the government. More social allegory than horror movie, Carpenter blends social criticism with horror, action, and science fiction. An unemployed construction worker, Roddy Piper, stumbles into LA hoping to get back on track with a new job. Piper has spent his whole life following the rules and working hard, but this still hasn’t been enough to enable him to provide for a minimalist existence.

Piper does get his new construction job, but in the process he stumbles upon an underground group of rebels, who manufacture special sunglasses that allow “normal humans” to see society for what it truly is: A series of advertisements promoting conservative brainless values, based on thoughtless reproduction and heartless greed and consumption. Piper accidentally becomes a lead figure in the rebel movement attempting to expose the disgusting elitists taking advantage of the poor and destitute.

Many of the social commentaries explored in this film ring true more today than when this film was released in 1988. John Carpenter is one of the most under-rated directors in modern film-making. His films are easy targets for people to rip down and unfairly criticize because he often makes films that don’t appeal to mainstream audiences. Much like Craven, he does what he wants to do, and if you don’t like it stay home and rent “Independence Day”. They Live is grossly underrated and overlooked by the film community and moviegoers in general.

Admittedly a bit campy at times, They Live is one of the few films in modern Hollywood that addresses the serious problem of the ever widening wealth distribution gap occurring in the US. Like Craven, Carpenter is often criticized for going too far and for disregarding what is prim, proper, and acceptable. I think what really holds back this film is budgetary restraints. Procuring acceptable financing commitments from Hollywood has been a career long problem with all of Carpenter’s films. Movie studios just don’t want to shell out big bucks to directors that don’t suck up to ignorant audiences.

 

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.