I recently ran across a digital folder with movie posters I’ve been collecting. I’d actually forgotten about these. Almost all of these posters are from the 1920s and 1930s. Typical of film posters of that time, none of the ones here use photographs; the artwork is all illustration. Some of the films are well known, most of them not so much. But the posters are all are quite striking, beautiful at times. In my capacity as Chief Curator for Films etc., I feel compelled to put them on display. I’ve also stretched the parameters a bit to include a couple from the ’40s and ’50s. Behold!

________________________________________________

The Fighting Streak (1924)

____________________________________________

Red Hair (1928) & Red Headed Woman (1932)

_________________________________________

The Walking Dead (1936)

___________________________________________________

Fighting for Justice (1932)  Two decidedly different approaches to selling the film.

____________________________________________________________

Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars – serial (1938)

_______________________________________________

The Black Cat (1934)

_______________________________________________

Rebecca (1940) & Quality Street (1937)

_______________________________________________

Spies (1928)  Expressionistic, not representational like the others. Below that, a great still from the film, too dynamic not to include here.

_______________________________________________

Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)  Arguably the first film noir.

_______________________________________________

3 Bad Men (1926)  Two posters and a trade ad.

_______________________________________________

The Man from Utah (1934) & The Oregon Trail (1936)

_______________________________________________

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

_______________________________________________

King Kong (1933)

_______________________________________________

Deadwood Pass (1933) & The Traitor (1936)

_______________________________________________

Cimarron (1931)_______________________________________________

Fanny (France, 1932) & Anna Karenina (Germany, 1920)

_______________________________________________

Invisible Stripes (Swedish poster, 1939)

_______________________________________________

Not a film poster, but a stunning cover painting of ClaraBow (Motion Picture Classic magazine, June 1926)

_______________________________________________

The First Kiss (1928) & Love Letters (1945)

_______________________________________________

The Kid (1921) & Beggars of Life (1928)

________________________________________________________

America (1924)

________________________________________________________

Zaza (1923)

________________________________________________________

I want to close out with this aggressive poster for Them (1954). It reminds me a bit of the Spies poster in its stylized approach. I also thought it was a good way to go out with a bang.

________________________________________________________

That does it for this one. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing these amazing posters. I had a great time putting this together. See you next time. Stay tuned. — Ted Hicks

________________________________________________________