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!
Buffalo Bill's Wild West show was a defining piece of pop culture, and Americana, during the late 1800''s and early 1900's. The show was a touring show, akin to a circus. It featured skilled performers and animals from all over, including the now legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley. She was the highest-earning performer on his roster, and would wow audiences across the globe with her impressive skill set. She would eventually retire from the show and would go on to do a number of even more impressive things -- including teaching women how to shoot as a means of both self-defense and preservation.
Annie Oakley had been the subject of stage shows even during her life. In 1935, nine years after her death, Barbara Stanwyck would portray Oakley in the first film about her life, Annie Oakley. The film itself wasn't entirely based in reality and took creative liberties to create a story and drama. Yet it would seem fitting to create an entertaining movie on Oakley rather than a factual one - after all, Buffalo Bill himself knew that audiences wanted entertainment, and I'm willing to bet Oakley knew that as well.
This linen poster from 1952 is beautiful, with the heroine cocking her gun against a bright background. Heritage notes that this poster is restored, but is in overall Fine / Very Fine condition.
Once in a while, a piece of television will come along that hits and sticks with you forever. For me there's only a handful of shows that have done that; The Nanny, The X-Files, The Wire, and Mad Men. The AMC drama began in the summer of 2007 and introduced viewers to some of the best-developed characters seen on television thus far. The lead antagonist, Don Draper, is charismatic and devastatingly handsome (thanks, Jon Hamm), yet deeply flawed to the point where viewers sometimes wonder why we're rooting for him. The show never lacked visual appeal, and while it could come off as glamorizing the past, the show will emotionally gut-punch you back into reality.
The final season started in April 2013 and was broken up into two parts - The Beginning (episodes 79-85) and The End of an Era (episodes 86-92). I watched the final season, secretly hoping this wasn't the end of the show. Even thinking back on it I'm filled with a longing for a show that truly moved me. Mad Men won dozens of awards, including the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Golden Globes for best drama television series. In 2011, Mad Men would take home an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. There is a reason why, nearly 10 years since its end, that people still reference this show. Mad Men is simply one of the best shows that has ever aired on television.
This poster for the final season features the iconic silhouette of Don Draper (an image that was used in the show's opening) looking at a psychedelic image of a woman with a drink being poured. The poster itself is powerful and beautiful. Heritage notes that this poster is unrestored and in Very Fine + condition.
In 1937, A Star is Born was released by United Artists. The technicolor movie drama introduced the basic plotline that followed every version of this film. The first remake of the film in 1954 added something the other remakes would inevitably follow - it became a musical. The 1954 version starred Judy Garland and James Mason. This movie was marketed as Garland's comeback since her exit from MGM, which may have worked. Audiences and critics praised the film. Yet despite the positive reaction to the film, Warner Brothers did not get the profit they had hoped for. Garland herself was praised for her role, which has become one of her defining roles. She would go on to win a Golden Globe for her performance and was nominated for an Academy Award as well.
This version was also edited several times, despite test audiences enjoying the unedited parts. After Garland's passing in 1969, the unedited version was released to theaters, and in 1983 a restored version was again released. A Star is Born would then be remade in 1976, and again in 2018. The original 1937 film is in the public domain, so don't be surprised if you see another remake in the next 30 to 40 years.
This restored linen poster is noted as being in Fine - condition. This poster is still beautiful, with Garland being the focal point.
