Welcome back to this week's look at Heritage's Sunday night movie poster auction! Every week Heritage auctions off some truly unique finds across all movie genres, such as movie serials, animation, science fiction, romance, and more. Each week I find a few gems that could be overlooked! Here are my pics for this week's unique finds!
Arguably one of the most controversial films of all time, The Birth of a Nation was adapted from the novel (and play) The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan. Yes, all three versions are problematic. The movie revolutionized how films were made going forward, and during its initial release in 1915, tickets were sold at a whopping $2 per ticket. That comes out to roughly $60 today. The movie was controversial on its release, causing the NAACP to declare the film a threat to public safety. As a result, the movie was re-edited several times and was even banned in 8 states. To combat the negative racial stereotypes this film portrayed, African American directors made several films depicting black America in a positive light.
This window card doesn't depict scenes or characters like the more popular posters do. Instead, it relies on bold colors and explains why people should pay $5 per seat. Even more impressive is that this piece is over 100 years old, unrestored, and noted as being in Fine + condition with bright, vivid colors.
Disney's How To Play Football (1944)
Disney and Technicolor were a match made in heaven. Many of the classic cartoons we associate with Disney were made with Technicolor, making them pop and stand out even decades later. This poster is for the 7-minute Goofy cartoon, How To Play Football. Goofy starred in many 'How To' cartoons, depicting the loving yet clumsy character bumbling around in various sports. These cartoons were a part of the larger 'Everyman' years where Goofy was depicted doing things that normal, everyday people do. Disney would later pay homage to this era in 2007's How To Hook Up Your Home Theater. How To Play Football is cited as one of the best of the series, and has created a legacy of its own since 1944.
This unrestored daybill is noted as being in Fine/Very Fine condition. The colors absolutely pop, and I love the airbrushed look of Goofy. This would look great framed, and is perfect for any Disney fan!
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Czech Poster (1986)
Time and time again Indiana Jones posters are readily available in most weekly Heritage auctions. Like many of you, I'm a fan of the series, so it's always a thrill to see posters up for sale. But what we don't see often is international posters for the movie! This Czech poster by Milan Pecak is stunning. The creepy skull with Indy in the center is too cool. Pecak also made bold, statement-piece posters for Mississippi Burning and The Terminator. Indiana Jones would become one of the most iconic and successful franchises in the 1980s and would spawn a multimedia franchise that includes comics, video games, and of course theme park attractions.
This unrestored poster is noted as being in Very Fine + condition. This is a unique piece for collectors, but also doubles as a fun art piece. I haven't seen this in Heritage's auctions often, so if you're looking for one this could be your chance to get one at a great price!
