Last week, I posted about a few pieces in Heritage Auction Galleries' upcoming Signature Vintage Movie Poster <http://movieposters.ha.com/common/auction/catalog.php?SaleNo=667&ic=auctionhome_catalog> auction that might have slipped under your radar. Here are a few more of my favorites that I thought I'd draw to your attention.
Over the last several years, foreign posters have become more and more popular with collectors, with some of the most sought-after coming from Japan. The Japanese have long had a wonderful graphic tradition that has resulted in a number of exquisite posters, both for their domestic titles, and for titles from other countries. While American bidders will certainly look at, and compete for, Japanese paper for such well-known titles as the popular Godzilla series, or for posters from such favorite franchises as the James Bond movies, posters from original Japanese titles tend to be somewhat lesser known here. More's the pity, as these posters, and the movies they promote, are often quite striking. One of the images that really stood out for me during the cataloging process was a poster for a 1923 Japanese silent film, Mizumo no hana<http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?hdnJumpToLot=1&Sale_No=667&Lot_No=28077>. If you think collecting silent paper on American movies is tough, wait until you try to find Japanese silent paper! Even though silent films were produced in Japan through the 1930s, paper from these films of this era is as scarce as hen's teeth today, due to such disasters as a devastating earthquake in 1923, the Allied bombings of World War II, and the consequent paper drives. This particular piece is quite lovely, reminiscent of the classic ukiyo-e prints that have been so widely collected in the West ever since regular trade with Japan began in the nineteenth century. The colors and imagery are beautiful, and very different from later posters from this country, which tended to rely more heavily on photographic images. Of all the legendary filmmakers Japan produced in the twentieth century, perhaps none is so revered as Akira Kurosawa. This fine director was known for taking a more Western approach to filmmaking, which made his films far more accessible to foreign audiences than those of many of his contemporaries. One of his greatest achievements in this regard was a unique adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, set in feudal Japan. Starring the unequalled Toshiro Mifune, Throne of Blood <http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=667&hdnJumpToLot=1&Lot_No=28068> was a worldwide hit when it was released in 1957. Original release posters from Kurosawa's epics are hard to find, especially in high grade. The B2 we're offering in this current auction is a real stunner. Another great Japanese director was Kenji Mizoguchi, recognized the world over for his highly artistic approach to filmmaking. Although much of his early career was devoted to realistic political and ideological films, his later works tended to be period dramas, often set in feudal times. His next-to-last film, Shin Heike Monogatari<http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=667&hdnJumpToLot=1&Lot_No=28072>, better known in the West as The Taira Clan, was also one of his only films to be shot in color. A true masterwork, the film is a lasting tribute to a filmmaker who left a permanent impression on cinema around the world. The B2 we have in this auction is colorful and dramatic, and could not be in better condition. There are some posters that are simply masterworks of graphic art, and the 1929 Japanese poster for the German UFA-produced Asphalt<http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=667&hdnJumpToLot=1&Lot_No=28100> is one such. The only image is a small portrait of star Betty Amann in the lower right corner; the rest is all kanji text, wonderfully arranged in an art deco format that makes for a visually stunning piece. UFA film posters are notoriously scarce - the studio only existed from 1917 until 1945 - and are quite prized by collectors, making this gem well worth a look. If it's beautiful imagery you're looking for, look no further than the Japanese STB for the 1950s rerelease of Casablanca<http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=667&hdnJumpToLot=1&Lot_No=28890>. Featuring a gorgeous portrait of Ingrid Bergman at the top, a heroic image of Humphrey Bogart, looking quite a lot like a proto-James Bond, at the bottom, and an evocative image of Bogart and Claude Rains in the middle, this poster perfectly captures the mood and the feeling of this great movie. Even for a film that offers so many wonderful choices for poster collectors, this piece is a real standout. I'll wrap it up here for this time, but I'd still like to hear what everyone else's favorites are in this current catalog. There's so much being offered, it's like being a kid in a candy store. Best, John Petty Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
