Ben and Mopoers I’m doing deductive detective work here regarding An Enemy of the People because its initial release was one year prior to my getting into exhibition. But it mirrors what happened with a film I was involved which was also distributed from Warner Brothers in 1979. First here is what Wikipedia mentions and this sounds absolutely right.
Warners were at a loss at how to promote the film. McQueen was nearly unrecognisable, performing the role with a beard and long hair. The wordy period film was not what the studio were expecting from an established action star and the film only had a very limited theatrical release. For a year after it was completed An Enemy of the People sat on the shelf before it was given a tentative release in college towns in March 1978; it performed poorly and was quickly withdrawn. The poster issued to promote the film surrounded the image of McQueen, as Stockmann, with artwork of his better known previous roles, including 'Doc' McCoy from The Getaway, Jake Holman from The Sand Pebbles <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sand_Pebbles_(film)> and Frank Bullitt from Bullitt <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullitt>; a lobbycard <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbycard> was also issued featuring no images from the film but instead used positive reviews from test screenings. McQueen himself promoted the movie with an hour lecture at UCLA <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCLA> titled The Genius of Ibsen, but the slated October 1978 national release was cancelled. McQueen moved back to more familiar territory for his next (and it would prove final) two films, the Western Tom Horn <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Horn_(film)> and action movie The Hunter <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunter_(1980_film)>. Even after its short cinema run the film would remain highly obscure, not being released on home media until 2009 when Warners issued it on DVD through their burn-to-demand Digital Distribution <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_distribution> arm. This would most certainly explain no NSS information. These few playdates were obviously serviced directly by Warner Brothers as it would have proved foolish to print up a large paper run to service all the regional NSS depots and from there to the limited engagements when in fact it was quite likely they were very aware they had a commercially dubious film on their hands with a handful of dates. Also it mentions college towns and that was very much the norm at the time. Heck even my college, TEXAS A&M, and "on campus" would get test films (much to the objection of a Bryan/College Station exhibitor) and many times the posters were 27 x 41 but there were also smaller version, like 28” x 22” from whichever studio testing just to put on posting columns throughout campus. Again not from NSS nor in anyway printed on them. Then on its re-release, again, limited after McQueen’s death the same would likely apply. This exactly mirrors a situation with a film that was Matt Dillon’s debut film OVER THE EDGE…………a quite extraordinary film based on a real-life youth gang situation. It opened in New York very limited, if I recall only one house, then of all places the second engagement tested was in San Antonio with the theater circuit I worked with at the time. The camera stats for the print ads, the radio spots, and the one-sheets all came directly from Warner Brothers in Burbank for our (I think) 5 theater run a test to take it "wider". It did great business, and we had no “problems” with fights/commotion at our engagements. But so worried was WB in light of what happened with other gang-themed film like Paramount’s THE WARRIORS and other films they still pulled it to avoid backlash. We were stunned because it did very decent business and the film was quality. So evidently was the critic at the time of THE VILLAGE VOICE who called me to get the information because he too thought it an important film and took Warner’s to task. It was the first time my name was in print besides the post office….. Anyway OVER THE EDGE did get a release much later, but know the material we had was slight and exclusively printed for our engagements with no NSS information or for that matter were the newspaper stats from the usual Kater Litho Company because they came direct from the studio. In fact if I recall correctly I kept getting separate shipments prior to engagement as if the materials were being sent just as soon as made. A very independent vibe given Warner Brothers. Another coincidence, Quentin Tarantino’s New Beverly Cinema, a repertory house just down the street from me he now outright owns and personally oversees is presently showing a 35 mm print of ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE likely from his own collection. Anyway not having NSS information in no way means paper used exclusively for international use. Not saying it couldn’t be both. But studios printed poster runs for wild posting, promotional use for give-aways, every imaginable use. Many if not most did not have any NSS information printed on them when used in this fashion. Hope this anecdotal but personally lived experience is of help. freeman On Oct 30, 2014, at 4:23 PM, Ben Wadley <[email protected]> wrote: Hello Freeman...are you there??? Can anybody contact him, would love to get his valuable input on this. I have 3 lobby cards of the type that Zeev speaks of along with a rolled International USA printed one sheet from the 1978 release. Hence why I am keen to get more info on the origins of what actually happened with the marketing material and how you should identify it. Any other McQueen experts, please chime in.... Regards Ben All About Movies Pty Ltd (retailers of Vintage Movie Posters and Lobby Cards) Website: www.allaboutmovies.com.au Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllAboutMoviesAu Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AllAboutMovies1 -----Original Message----- From: MoPo List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Halegua Posters + Comic Art Sent: Friday, 31 October 2014 9:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [MOPO] NT Steve McQueen's An Enemy Of the People Lobby cards no becaus eyou can have ratings on them. usually, studio one sheets are for LA-centric showings, freebies for executives, promo items for theatre owners, premieres and the like again, Freeman would know much better At 01:54 PM 10/30/2014, Zeev Drach wrote: > But isn't the lack of NSS # the difference between international and > domestic 1SH? > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Halegua Posters + Comic Art [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: October 30, 2014 2:41 PM > To: Zeev Drach; [email protected] > Subject: Re: [MOPO] NT Steve McQueen's An Enemy Of the People Lobby cards > > no NSS generally means it is studio-produced paper that did not go through > NSS distribution channels > > > > > At 07:52 AM 10/30/2014, Zeev Drach wrote: >> I have a single LC(normal 11x14) in my collection(#3), and it appears to be >> for international release, since it has no NSS number(if that's the >> tell-tale sign...?). >> >> Other markings that can help: >> >> A First Artists presentation A SOLAR PRODUCTION >> From Warner Bros. >> A Warner Communication Company(plus logo) >> G-General Audiences >> Copyright 1978 First Artists Releasing >> LITHO. IN U.S.A. (plus GAU logo) >> >> Hope this sheds any light >> >> Zeev >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: MoPo List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard >> Halegua Comic Art >> Sent: October 30, 2014 1:13 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [MOPO] NT Steve McQueen's An Enemy Of the People Lobby cards >> >> At 07:16 PM 10/29/2014, Ben Wadley wrote: >>> Hi to you all >>> >>> Can anybody shed some light on when a full set of 8 USA lobby cards >>> were released for the theatrical release of McQueen's 'An Enemy Of The >>> People' ? Some research says cards were released at the time of test >>> screening but only with text reviews on them and no images. Other >>> research articles say cards were released as normal with images but in >>> very short supply because of the very limited screening by Warner bros >>> due to the inability to market the film. I understand a USA one sheet >>> was released with images of McQueen from his past movies but was this >>> at the time of the film's production 1978 or at a re-release - after >>> his death and the same for the lobby cards? Also what is the original >>> classification between the 1978 and post 1980 release? To anybody that >>> may have original 1978 lobbies, I have been told a hit squad is on its >>> way to secure them from a certain mopoer... >> >> Ben and I have been chatting about this subject the past few days. >> IMDB says the film was not released domestically in 1978 but that it was >> released internationally >> >> however, a scan of Heritage archives shows 2 one sheets, both of which have >> a G rating on them and a 1978 date. >> Also some lobby cards are known to exist with the >> 1978 printing, but they are not traditional lc's and are the 11x14 litho >> styles commonly used for international distribution >> >> It is possible the one sheets are 1982 posters with an original production >> date on them, however it is also possible that the posters were printed for >> an original release and never distriobuted. >> >> I suspect Freeman Fisher may be able to shed some light on the issue, if he >> sees this email >> >> Rich >> >> 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. >> >> >> --- >> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus >> protection is active. >> http://www.avast.com >> >> 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. > > > --- > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > protection is active. > http://www.avast.com > > 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. 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. 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. 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.
