Never So Few Australian Daybill
This daybill is described as a reissue.
One of the reasons why it is being referred to as a reissue is that Steve McQueen was given top billing on this poster but on original US domestic posters top billing was given to just Sinatra and Lollobrigida. Whilst there is some logic to that argument, it is possible that the billing info could be a red herring. Let me know what you think
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It is credited an being a re-release from the 1960s from information I supplied Bruce. Not only for the billing of Steve McQueen but also because Robert Burton didn't start printing MGM posters in Australian until 1962 and this poster is 1959. The original is most likely Chromo Print, is full colour and Steve McQueen is billed as a supporting actor.
It is an interesting one. My feeling is that posters should not be described as reissues unless there is absolute definitive information to support that ie evidence and image of an earlier poster, markings on the poster that clearly point to a release date ie censor details, etc.
I have not found any evidence of a re release in Australia of Never So Few and I'm not sure of the actual first release date of the movie in Australia. Does anyone have more information on that?
Up until very recently, the Argentinian and Danish posters with similar art and billing details had been described as original but they are now referred to as reissue from the 1960s. Some say that they are actually first release.
Heritage refers to the international US one sheets that they have sold as "original". Those international US printed posters are not dated so I don't know when they were actually printed. Maybe someone else might know the answer to that one.
If a Chromo printed daybill was indeed printed, it hasn't been seen yet.
Never So Few was released in Sydney on Febuary the 27th, 1960.
The Magnificent Seven was released in Sydney on September the 14th, 1961. This is over a year and a half later after the Australian release of Never So Few.
Steve McQueen prior to Never So Few had appeared in only a few B films including The Blob.
I put forward the question why would a virtually unknown actor in 1959 be given equal star billing with established stars Frank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida when Steve only found stardom after his success with The Magnificent Seven the following year.
Now I have established Never So Few was released in Australia in 1960 and not 1959 the original daybill was most likely printed by A. &.C. who had by then taken over from Chromo Print as the preferred MGM printer.
The reason that the original poster hasn't turned up isn't unusual as I could sight countless examples of 1950s films where daybill images haven't surfaced as yet.
I believe firmly the poster being sold by Bruce wasn't printed for the 1960 first release of Never So Few for all the previous reasons.
They show that now but some of those listings have only recently been altered from the original auctions.
Were you able to find a re release date for Never So Few in Australia?
One of the factors in identifying the release date of the poster is with the comparison to the US International art which is similar with billing for Sinatra, Lollobrigida and McQueen. The problem with that appears to be that no one can come up with the release date of those international posters. Some say they were issued for the original 1959 international release, others say that must be for a re release (date undetermined). I will try and find more information about that.
Your original thought was that an earlier daybill was printed by Chromo but now you are leaning towards A and C. This is certainly possible but there is no proof until we actually see an earlier poster.
Yes and I am really going to stir the pot regarding another MGM Frank Sinatra film as well. The Some Came Running daybill is credited as first release which I believe it is also a re-release. Going out shortly so I will post again later with my thoughts and information in detail. In the meantime does anyone have another Some Came Running daybill design to share? All your thoughts as well please?
But what this does highlight is how reliant we all seem to be on Bruce's site.
Like everyone else, I think it is a shame his results are changed instead of amended to, so we lose the history of what we thought they were.
I'm a bit foot in both camps.
Very much agree with John on the kinda like to see it...if nothing exists for an assumption or belief, then that is really all it is right.
On the other hand, some things just make sense when the rationale is put out there for you to see...no real proof but what is proposed makes sense and seems quite likely.
I never thought that collecting the humble daybill would be so difficult at times!
The first thing I would like to comment on is I have images of the vast majority of M-G-M daybills from the period 1950 to 1965 and of all the images of M-G-M daybills from this period the only first release ones printed by Robert Burton start with 1962 releases up to 1965 and nothing before that. If anyone has one before 1962 I would love to see it. This doesn't include films made before 1962 but only released 1962 or later or re-issues released 1962 or later. Both Never So Few and Some Came Running were printed by Robert Burton. Never So Few was released in Sydney 27/ 2 /1960 and Some Came Running released in Sydney 8/10/1959 of which I am positive the original daybill posters would have been printed by Chromo print & A.& C.
Never So Few was re-released in Canberra, A.C.T. and I have found a newspaper advertisement for a screening in July, 1969 and Some Came Running was also re-released in Canberra in March, 1970.
The fact daybills haven't surfaced for some titles doen't mean they don't exist. I have brought to light dozens of original daybills designs for titles where the re-release title were once considered to be the original. The titles include High Society, Deep In My Heart, Showboat, I'll Cry Tomorrow, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, You Can't Escape Forever, Africa Screams, Rhapsody and the list goes on.
I have now run out of ammunition so I don't think I will have anything new to contribute in the near future but I am more than happy to reply to any questions regarding anything I have mentioned so far or to anything new on the subject you may wish to ask me.
What I would really really like to see are the original two daybills to surface that I am convinced exist.
I think in these cases, the original daybills have all turned up and you have done fantastic research in uncovering them. I have also highlighted various examples over the years including North By Northwest where many were convinced that the reissue was original. You may well be correct in saying that the daybill that we have seen for Never So Few is a reissue but I don't think that can be held as fact until we see an earlier daybill.
As to the Australian reissue dates, I doubt that a daybill would have been printed specifically for that Drive In Sunday Special and the Some Came Running daybill that Bruce auctioned certainly looks a lot earlier than 1970.
I'm just putting another viewpoint on the table and I'm not really sure either way. Your reasoning is excellent but I don't think we can be sure until we see the earlier daybills. That's just my opinion!
John I appreciate your comments on this subject and your opinion. I am positive, in my mind anyway, that there were earlier daybills for the now two titles in question. Hopefully one day we will see examples of earlier daybills.
The Canberra releases could have been at the tail end of an earlier re-release explaining the earlier look of the daybill.
One last thing has sprung to mind on the Never So Few daybill. Many years ago a huge bundle of posters was sold off from a person in Melbourne and the majority of posters in the bundle were late 60s and later and there were multiples of some titles including the Never So Few daybill in question.
I have been given some more information on this that supports Lawrence's theory. There had always been doubt about the actual release date of the international US posters for Never So Few up until now. I noticed that the Heritage international 3 sheet had the number "4754 Litho in USA". Bruce has come back to me with the answer.
"Comparing that number to our massive database of litho numbers, we can say with a very high certainty that the int'l release is from exactly 1964 (which makes perfect sense, because that is when McQueen became a superstar, after The Great Escape)."
I think it is possible that the Argentinian posters that give McQueen top billing are original but the film could have been shown a few years later there than in the US.
Lawrence has found a release date in Australia of 1960 so it seems likely that there might be an earlier daybill. Strange that nothing has turned up so far.
When an original A. & C. ( outside chance Chromo print ) printed daybill hopefully turns up one day I predict this is what the original Australian daybill design will look like.
Just found Never So Few was screened in Bourke, N.S.W. in August 1968.
Looking through my notes on MGM film logos used on Australian daybills in the 1960s I have come to the conclusion the two daybill posters shown above that we were recently discussing were for re-releases that happened between 1962 and 1966 when the MGM posters were logo free and only had MGM presents on them.
Thank you Ves for locating an original daybill of Never So Few. I must say it is a feel good experience to be vindicated for what I had stated. The Chromoprint daybill is the original and the Robert Burton is a mid 1960's re-release. Does everyone agree now ? Sometimes, as in this case, it is hard work in convincing then proving, but well worth it in the end. My prediction that it would look like the original U.S. insert is spot on. Sorry couldn't help myself.
Believe it or not, all of a sudden a rush of posters for this film!
Aussie one sheet found too!
Please share the one sheet with us. Very keen to sight it ?
Is it correct to say that a lot of 3 sheets from around this period ( late 1950's and early 1960's ) were printed without printers credits appearing on them ?
A strong possibility then? I have noticed this a lot with three sheets from this period. Not only 3 sheets though as there were a considerable number of mainly United Artists daybills without printers details appearing on them as well.
I don't expect you to check but you would agree from your memory at least a small number of 3 sheets were printed without any printers details on them then from the period in question?
Gee, when it rains it pours!
Nearly forgot...the one sheet.