From: gmclain@lonestar.utsa.edu (Glenn A. Mclain)
Subject: Re: Star Wars Poster question Part II
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 09:59:09 GMT

In article <93011.203731U16028@uicvm.uic.edu> <U16028@uicvm.uic.edu> writes:
>I have received a few replies to my original posting of "any collecting
>value to a Star Wars poster?"  The comments ranged from $10 to $60.
>But one poster mentioned "if you can prove it is authentic."
>
>How would one prove it is authentic?  I just found another Star Wars
>poster, same type as before -- Leia with a blaster, Luke with the
>light sabre, and the helmet of Darth.  The bottom of the poster has on it
>"Factors Etc. Inc., Bear, Del. U.S.A. Image Factory Inc., Hollywood, Calif."
>"@ 1977 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp."
>
>Are there forgeries or reprints?

There are a number of companies that have a license to reprint some of the
original posters.  Sonoma Portal is an example.  What you described from
your first post, it would be hard to tell unless you opened the tube.  If
I had to make a guess, I would probably say that it is not the actual
theatrical release poster.  I own almost all the theatrical released posters
from the trilogy, so I can give you a good idea what the real thing should
look like.  First of all, the size of the poster is important.  The Star Wars
series of posters were primarily released in two sizes(with a couple of
exceptions).  The size that most of us are familiar with is the one-sheet.
It measures 27 1/2 x 41 inches.  This is the size we are most likely to see
on display in or outside the movie theater.  The National Screen Service
has used this standard size poster since the 1940's, and it is still used
on the newer releases today.  The other size poster, which has all but
disappeared, is the insert.  An insert poster measures 14 x 36, and are
generally a smaller version of the one-sheet.  Inserts seem to be more
popular with collectors because of its compactness and beacause it is far
easier to display.  Inserts have been around almost as long as the one-sheets,
but their fate was sealed in the early eighties.  As far as I know, the
National Screen Service does not produce inserts anymore.

Now, a few points.  First, one-sheets are not what you find in the video store.
They may look like the theatrical poster, but they are smaller, and usually
are printed and distributed by the video distributor.  These posters are not
worth much of anything.  You can usually spot these posters because they make
some reference to the video distributor.  Don't get suckered by someone on this
point.

Next, actual theatrical released movie posters are property of the National
Screen Service, and are not to be bought or sold, although everyone does it,
and there doesn't seem to be any enforcement of the copyright.  Listed at the
bottom of the One-Sheet Star Wars movie poster described above, it reads;

    Property of the National Screen Service Corporation.  Licensed for use
    only in connection with the exhibition of this picture at the theater
    licensing this material.  Licensee agrees not to trade, sell or give it
    away, or permit others to use it, nor shall licensee be entitled to any
    credit upon return of this material.  This material either must be
    returned or destroyed immediately after use.

This notice seems to be the common denominator when determining the
authenticity of a movie poster.  I don't ever recall seeing this notice
on any of the reprints I've ever owned.

A couple of other things to look for;  First, Star Wars had a variety of
different style posters released.  The style type is usually listed at
the bottom right hand corner of the original poster.  Again, I don't believe
the reprints have the style printed.  Here are the styles of posters
released, as far as I can recall off the top of my head.

STAR WARS
    Style A - Known as the Jung Poster, for it's artist.  This is probably
        the most recognized poster from the Star Wars Trilogy.  It features
        Luke, with a lightsaber over head, and a well endowed Leia at his
        side with a blaster.  In the background is Vader's head and the
        Death Star.  Smaller features include the 2 droids and many dozens
        of x-wings flying in formation to battle.

    Style B - Can't recall this one.

    Style C - This poster is probably the best artwork from the Trilogy.
        It features almost every major character in the movie.  Center, is
        Luke, aiming a blaster at the viewer. to his left and right are
        Han and Leia, who are both shooting their blasters off the side of
        poster.  Immediatly behind our trio of heroes is Vader, wielding
        lightsaber.  Scattered around these characters is Tarkin, Kenobi,
        Chewie, and the droids.  In the distant background, a huge space
        battle is raging.  This is my personal favorite.  I've read that
        only 500 of this type poster exist.

    Style D - The best way to describe this is the "1930's style" poster.
        This poster has a deliberate antique look to it, especially around
        the borders.  Features include Luke & Leia about to make the rope
        swing, R2 & 3P0 hanging on to an out of control landspeeder, Storm-
        troopers running across the dunes of Tatooine, Vader with his saber,
        and chewie and some jawas thrown in for good measure.  This is really
        a fun looking poster, unfortunatly, I doubt that many people ever
        saw it.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
    Advanced One-Sheet - This poster, was released prior to the movie, and
        is of Vader's head, floating in space, with the words "The Star Wars
        Saga Contiues" above, abd the words "Coming to a your Galaxy this
        Summer" at the bottom of the poster.

    Style A - This poster has been referred to as the "Gone with the Wind"
        poster.  It is probably the best artwork created for any of the
        posters in the trilogy.  This features Luke sitting high on a Taun-
        taun and Han dipping Leia backwards, about to give her a kiss(hence
        the name).  The droids are also in the foreground.  The background
        is made up of Vader and a few x-wing fighters.

    Style B - It is rumored that Billy Dee Williams was upset that his image
        didn't appear on the theatrical release poster, so another poster was
        created.  If this were true, then it would explain the awful artwork
        asociated with this poster.  Similar to the style A, this poster has
        a gross baby-blue tint that becomes very distracting after awhile.
        the characters are also very rough drawn, and appear to be boxy.  I
        give this one 2 thumbs down.   BTW, the style A artwork was later
        modified with Yoda, Lando, and some sort of Tractor gun, airbrushed
        onto the original artwork.  You can see this version on the ESB novel.


RETURN OF THE JEDI
    Advanced One-sheet - There are 2 versions of this poster.  One says
        Revenge of the Jedi, and the later version, Return of the Jedi.  The
        artwork remains the same.  It features Luke and Vader locked in their
        final combat scene.

    Style A - This poster is very simple in nature.  It consists of a pair
        of hands, hold a lightsaber up.  As I'm sure most of you trivia buffs
        already know, those hands were modeled by none other than George
        Lucas.  This artwork was used for the paperback novel.

    Style B - This poster is a sort of combo of all the characters from the
        movie.  Center stage is Leia, in slave dancer outfit.  Behind her are
        Han with a blaster ready, and Luke in his black garb with a saber.
        In the background(this is getting old) is Vader, blending in with the
        stars and the half completed death star.

In addition to these posters, there were re-release posters, tenth anniversary
poster, Star Wars Trilogy Marathon posters, etc.  But as a whole, those are the
main posters from the series.

I've probably gotten way off the subject, but I doubt the poster you received
was a theatrical release.  Most likely, it was some promotional poster printed
up by 20th Century Fox, for special give-a-ways, like what you described.

Glenn..........


-- 
Glenn McLain, still trying to find a job with a title to put in my sig.



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