Guns of Navarone

Matt

The Guns of Navarone

A while ago I helped out JR with what I thought at the time was all issues of The Guns of Navarone daybill. Another one popped up on ebay to bring the count to 6 and probably the last to be issued. The same as number 5 but with a For General Exhibition snipe added. Unfortunately I was the underbidder....bugger!

Matt

A 3 Sheet

Matt

The original programme.

Matt

Matt

Btw, that's not all pages photographed. I can post more if anyone wants to see them.

Eisenhower

Very nice-I don't own one program so it's cool to see the inside. Is a Program the same as a "Pressbook"? Just a more contemporary name? Production info & backstory is always good reading on a favorite movie. >-

Matt

There were pressbooks and press sheets produced in Aus, but they were mainly printed in black and white. A programme from what I understand was more about the movie and it's production and actors rather than details of poster and lobby card prices, running time and so forth.

Matt

I put a link in to John's article in the first post. First line.

John

As you say this daybill is the same as the fifth one in the article. The snipe was just added later so I don't think it really qualifies as being a separate version but it is an interesting one.

Matt

Yes it's not a different version but the question is, how many times was the film re released in cinemas?

Zorba

Loved this film as a kid.

Still do.

Have a couple of posters but too lazy now   

Zorba

Love the map  Matt

Gavin

Hi Matt,

I can confirm for you that under the "For General Exhibition" snipe is the "Not suitable for children" rating printed on the poster. This text can be read through the snipe, which has been glued over the top.

I felt the explanation given in John Reid's article of the rating changing from "Not suitable for children" to "For General Exhibition" not long after the movie's release was supported by this snipe being stuck over the original rating. 

Otherwise, the only other plausible explanation I can come up with is that this poster was recycled for a later re-release of the film. I'm not sure if there are other examples of this occurring with other films around this time.

Either way I felt the placement of the snipe on this poster helps to confirm that the other versions of the Guns of Navarone Daybill with "For General Exhibition" printed on them were printed at a date following the poster you have displayed above.

I'm sorry you weren't successful in bidding for this daybill. It would appear it is a very small world!! :-)

Paul

Nice bit of info Gavin, and welcome to the forum. A Watchmen fan too....it's all good stuff.

Charlie

Welcome Gavin!!!

Matt

Glad you joined Gavin and welcome. More proof that this is a great film given it has been re-released into the cinemas soooo many times.

So it was you that outbid me.....you bastid!

:P

John

Just another thought on the daybill with the snipe added, I have seen quite a number of Australian posters where the cinema owner has either cut a censorship logo from another poster and pasted it over the top of an original rating or where they have added a snipe ie it was just done for that particular cinema. There are plenty of possible reasons why that might happen.

Matt

Finally, with the help of a certain member. Thanks DR.

And yes that is a snipe over the NSFC.

theartofmovieposters

Oh NICE...and BASTARDO!

Matt

Another one to add to your list Ves. )

theartofmovieposters

I'll wait for your next shout

Matt

HONDO

The Guns Of Navarone numerous Australian posters release date tie-ins have been discussed a lot on various threads on this forum and many others as well. Various differing  opinions have been expressed, but I feel it is time to discuss all the individual posters one by one now, as  I believe I have all the information to solve the release dates for all of the following.

4 x daybills (  but not the black & white duotone which is still ? )

2 x one sheets

1 x 3 sheet

I thought I would download all the 7 colour poster images along with the duotone daybill as well. I would then ask opinions one by one on what members thoughts are on each poster and give it a tick if all agree.

I think the mystery surrounding the release dates of all these posters needs and can to be solved once and for all and put to bed.

I am ready to commence immediately. Firstly I need to say  that I am at the stage with the forum where I often receive little in the way of responses to some of my threads, ( probably my thought anyway ), and this can be a little discouraging after the time and effort that go into some of them sometimes. 

Hopefully I will hear from four members who would like to commit to and will participate. Let me know if you are in and once I receive - four yes I am in for it - it will be off and running.

Matt

Well, you know I have all of them except for the duo tone one sheet, so go for it.

1

Bruce

As you know, I am all for accurately dating all move posters.

Count me in.

HONDO

Thanks for Matt & Bruce being willing to participate.  Two more ?

theartofmovieposters

Me three.

HONDO

theartofmovieposters said:

Me three.

Excellent.

HONDO

We were one short in numbers I had asked for, which was disappointing, so to save time I will sum it up myself on what I believe is 100% true. All the daybills, one sheets and 3 sheets printed of The Guns of Navarone that are original first release posters in Australia, based on numerous factors that I have discovered from extensive research, have and will have the main clue " Filmed on location in Greece!'' appearing on them. Any other posters without this information appearing would be from the later 1960's re-release. Over to one and all.

Charlie

I generally ignore most daybill posts but since Matt, Ves and Bruce want to know count me in...

Matt

I agree.

The other main clue is at the bottom of each poster. The printers name. The font lettering is consistent for those posters printed in and around 1961.

The green version with the crudely painted guns is the first printed. Seems odd they did this but Peck's face being the lead character is far better in this print than all the others. It also has the original rating before they cut a couple of scenes. Then it came out with a snipe over the top. Then they redesigned the poster probably for extended runs in the cinemas.