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This poster nearly doubled its pre-auction high estimate when numerous bidders drove its final price to $102,000, claiming top-lot honors in Heritage Auctions’ Movie Posters Auction.
Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid became the legendary love triangle in this film, with a supporting cast including Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet among other fine Hollywood players. What makes this poster so nice is that the whole cast appears on it. The film went on to become one of the most important films in Hollywood history.
Sold for: $102,000
Only a small number of copies still exist left uncut and this is the only poster from this film to use the artwork featured on the lower right side by Robert McGinnis.
Sold for: $24,000
This poster drew bids from more than a dozen collectors before nearly tripling its low estimate at $22,800. Already long since established as a star, Blake Edwards’ rendition of Truman Capote’s novella elevated Audrey Hepburn into the cinematic icon she is today.
Though Capote originally protested Hepburn’s casting, strongly advocating that Marilyn Monroe should get the role of his bubbly socialite, Hepburn turned in one of the most memorable performances of her lifetime.
Sold for: $22,800
Republic Pictures wanted to turn the “Man of Steel” into a serial, but Paramount got the rights first and decided to create a series of cartoons instead.
Sold for: $20,400
This horror classic is one of the finest from the era and was an immediate sensation, spawning two top sequels.
Sold for: $19,200
Showcasing a version of Ralph McQuarrie's unique “Vader in Flames” design, this truly unique Empire Day double crown was used exclusively for the film’s British premier.
Sold for: $15,600
A piece of history turned pop culture craze, this quintessentially British phrase can be found everywhere. Printed on the cusp of World War II, this humble crown was originally supposed to take part in a morale campaign led by Britain’s Ministry of Information, designed specifically in the event of a direct Nazi attack or invasion. However, many found the first two entries of the series to be patronizing or insulting, and nearly all of the 2.5 million “Keep Calm” posters were pulped down for re-use.
Sold for: $15,600
Fred Spear’s ghostly illustration invokes one of the greatest tragedies of World War I: the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. In an unprecedented attack, nearly 1,200 passengers met their end in the frigid waters of the Atlantic after a German U-boat caught the civilian ocean liner in its sights. One-hundred twenty-eight of those travelers were American, and the sinking became a rallying cry for the U.S. to officially enter into the European conflict.
Sold for: $14,400
A classic film noir from novel to screenplay, This Gun for Hire hits all of the high points essential for a shady crime thriller, complete with hardboiled leads, twisting plotlines, and a drop-dead gorgeous dame. Despite Robert Preston’s top billing, Ladd stole the attention of audiences with his gritty performance and undeniable chemistry with the alluring Veronica Lake.
Sold for: $14,400
Universal’s 1931 production of Frankenstein made a star of actor Boris Karloff and firmly established the studio in the Golden Age of Horror, initiated earlier that year with Bela Lugosi’s performance in Dracula.
Sold for: $13,200
