A Vintage Movie Poster Auction of Monstrous Proportions!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Heritage Vintage Movie Posters (HVMP) will present an exceptional selection of classic movie material in their upcoming auction, to be held July 15, 2005 in Dallas, Texas.

"It's going to be Halloween in July, as monsters and aliens once again lead the list of classic material offered in our upcoming event," said Grey Smith, Director of HVMP. "This is the material that drives collectors wild, and I'm happy that Heritage is able to offer such a spectacular line-up, including the original Japanese one-sheet for the 1954 film Gojira, better known to westerners as Godzilla. This rarely-seen and rarely-offered B2 style may be the first time that American dai kaiju (that's 'big monster' for those of you that don't speak Japanese) enthusiasts have had a chance to add this beauty to their collection without the added expense of a plane ticket to Japan."

"Also featured in this auction," Smith continued, "is an insert for the classic 1941 Universal horror film, The Wolfman, starring Lon Chaney, Jr. Collectors consider this to be one of the best, and most attractive, pieces from this classic film, and we're proud to offer it in this auction."

"Of course, it's not all ghouls and fiends in this auction," said Smith. "I'm also very excited about our other classic items, including a Moon Over Miami one-sheet, a Dark Victory six-sheet, and a Style-C one-sheet for the winner of the very first Academy Award for Best Picture, 1927's Wings. The phrase 'something for everyone' has never been more true than it is in this auction."

Additional highlights of the July 15 auction include:

Sin of Nora Moran (Majestic Pictures, 1933).
One Sheet (27" X 41"). Zita Johann, Hungarian born actress, made her screen debut in D.W. Griffith's last film, "The Struggle;" however, her most memorable role was as the object of Boris Karloff's desire in "The Mummy." Another copy of this gorgeous poster sold in a previous auction of ours two years ago. This copy is only the second we have seen and has had the lower 3/4" trimmed where, we believe, most copies were trimmed to eliminate the date in the tagline. This was done, most likely, to use in a rerelease showing. This copy has had the tagline meticulously replaced. Other than this trimmed area. the poster was in very fine, unbacked condition. After the great professional restoration, we would grade this as Fine+ on Linen.

2001: A Space Odyssey (MGM, 1968).
One Sheet (27" X 41"). When MGM decided to revamp the advertising campaign for this blockbuster film in 1969 they chose the tagline "The Ultimate Trip." The EYE poster, as this poster is most often referred to, was conceived for the 1969, 70mm relaunch in New York while the film was still playing around the country in its original 1968 standard 35mm format. This poster was primarily used for wilding (i.e.posting on building sites, etc.). It was therefore printed in a smaller quantity than the STAR CHILD poster, the campaign's principal image. The STAR CHILD was retained for subsequent releases for the next decade. Some of the EYE posters were displayed at the Ziegfeld Theatre but as a secondary image, and never for newspaper ads, etc. It is therefore the rarest of all the U.S. one sheets for "2001: A Space Odyssey." The original printing of the EYE and STAR CHILD posters have no NSS or other information in the bottom border, as they were created in rush time, not knowing if the campaign would take. After the successful New York opening, the campaign was adapted in other U.S. cities. This beautiful poster is rolled and in near mint/mint condition. Near Mint/Mint.

Dumbo (RKO, 1941).
One Sheet (27" X 41"). The original release of this Disney classic grossed more revenue than "Pinocchio" and "Fantasia" combined. The film proved so popular that "Time" magazine planned to feature Dumbo on the December 1941 cover. Unfortunately, Pearl Harbor bumped the baby elephant. This ultra-scarce one sheet is in terrific condition. There are tears in both upper corners, some minor bumps and small tears along the edge border. The center fold line shows signs of slight fold separation, but the overall appearance is amazingly crisp. Very Fine-.

Mad Love (MGM, 1935).
Australian One Sheet (27" X 40"). World-class cinematographer Karl Freund directed this film after bringing life to the horror classic "The Mummy." The film starred Peter Lorre, in his first role in America, as the mad Dr.Gogol. American posters, or for that matter any posters, for this early horror classic have always been unheard of. Other than a handful of trimmed window cards and a couple of lobby cards, the posters for this film are not known to exist. Oddly enough, the horror film was banned in Australia just around the time this one sheet was printed. Here is the only known poster to exist from this true horror classic. This is a stone litho Australian one sheet to perhaps the most elusive horror title in history. The poster has been linen backed.There was a missing piece of border and just slightly into the artwork on the very lower left side. There were some small tears in the upper dark field as well as a stain which was present in the last two letters at the end of each word of the title. The restoration work done is seamless and minimal and is virtually invisible. Fine/Very Fine on Linen.

Hays Office Promotional Posters (MPPDA, 1935).
One Sheets (5) (27" X 41"). After several Hollywood scandals led to the fear that the immorality, perceived to be rampant, might appear on screen, the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), headed by Will H. Hays, was established in 1922 as a film review board. The Production Code, popularly known as the "Hays Code," a highly restrictive set of guidelines for movie content, was promulgated in 1934 and complied with by virtually every Hollywood producer. Offered in this lot are five posters distributed to theaters in 1935 by the MPPDA to promote the growth of a morally proper industry. The artist was M. Leone Bracker (1885-1937), an illustrator whose work was seen on a number of WWI posters. This beautiful set may be the only group known to have survived. We are not sure if this is the entire set or if there were more than five posters produced. We are showing, for display only, an ad from the "Black Fury" (Warner Brothers, 1935) pressbook in which these posters were advertised. The posters have all been put on linen with no further restoration. Some have slight edge chipping, minor water damage and several have minor silverfish damage. These very rare posters are stunning in their monochromatic splendor. Fine/Very Fine on Linen.

Forbidden Planet (Loews-MGM, 1956).
Three Sheet (41" X 81"). This is the same striking image as the American one sheet, but with the larger, oversized graphics of this sought after title. This linen-backed poster is in amazing condition with just a minor fold line retouch and very slight touch up to several miniscule holes in the lower credit panel. Very Fine+ on Linen.

Gilda (Columbia, 1946).
Six Sheet (81" X 81"). Probably the pinnacle performance of her career as a movie star, Rita Hayworth's every bend and twitch is a mesmerizing come-on in this classic of the film noir genre. Offered here is the stunning and overpowering six sheet to this film. This, aside from the rare style B one sheet, has to be one of the most alluring images of the ultimate femme fatale. As Hayworth said about the role later in life, "Every man I knew had fallen in love with Gilda and wakened with me." This poster has been linen backed and was in excellent condition. Due to some fading of the red in the poster, which has been beautifully and professionally restored, we have graded it as only Very Good+.

Iron Mask (United Artists, 1929).
One Sheet (27" X 41"). This 1929 silent version was the last silent film produced by and starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. It starred Fairbanks as D'Artagnan and Marguerite De La Motte as his beloved Constance. The original 1929 release, though a silent film, actually had a soundtrack: several short narrations delivered by Fairbanks (in a rather orotund manner ? it was no wonder he was much less successful in "talkies" than he had been in the silent era), and a musical score with a few sound effects. Offered here is one of two style one sheets that was produced for this sequel to the famous "Three Musketeers." This is a gorgeous unused poster, which has only the most minor centerpoint separation. The poster is unrestored in every way and is as white and supple as the day it was printed. Very Fine+.

Son of Frankenstein (Universal, 1939).
Midget Window Card (8" X 14"). This was the third of Universal's Frankenstein films and the last worthwhile entry before the series dissolved into sequels without the Karloff monster. The previous two entries, "Frankenstein" (1931) and "The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935), were big hits. The films were driven by Whales' eccentric sense of humour and the audience-endearing pathos of Boris Karloff's monster. Offered here is perhaps the only known copy of this midget window card. The card has been restored with the addition of the trimmed upper imprint area. There was a small chip off of the lower right corner which has been replaced. The image to this card has always been completely intact and the colors are bright and vibrant. Fine-.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageMoviePosters.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of vintage movie posters and related material should contact Grey Smith at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 367, or 214-252-4367, or email GreySm@HeritageMoviePosters.com.

To reserve your copy of a catalog for any upcoming Heritage auction, please contact: Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219 or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272.