An American In Paris
There are two versions, the Red on and the White one...is one Original release, and one Re-release, or are they both first release?
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There are two versions, the Red on and the White one...is one Original release, and one Re-release, or are they both first release?
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Good question.
The film was released in the USA in late 1951 but only in Australia on the 2 / 4 / 1952. The academy awards were held on the 20 / 3 / 1952 thirteen days before the Australian release so the white one would have been printed prior to the awards ceremony.
Now this leaves us with the red one with the awards mentioned on it. There are two possibilities. The first is MGM, to cash in on awards, asked W.E.Smith the same printer of the white one to design a new poster with the awards information on it so as to cash in on all the publicity of film winning so many awards.It also says ''year's best film'' I believe both posters are first release . There is also another possibility. W. E. Smith printed MGM daybills up until 1956 in Australia so I suppose the film may have had a re-release in Australia in 1955 or 1956 and this could be the red poster but in my mind I doubt it..
Hondo
Let me know if it is a snipe or not as it does look like one and if it is i will post another possibility about the two posters after hearing back from you?
Hondo
Changed my mind, I think the red daybill was the original daybill printed and a snipe with the awards information was attached post awards.The poster is a better designed poster and the wording and the artwork is similar to almost all the U.S. and other countries original artwork. It would be interesting to find a daybill issued before the awards without a snipe on it.
Now the white poster is a mystery. The wording of ''The gayest, the most gorgeous, the greatest musical ever, is'' is unique as far as I can see to this daybill only. The girl dancing I have only been able to find after looking at countless posters on one only piece of original advertising material which I will post shortly.
Hondo
The advertising material as previously mentioned I was having trouble downloading.
Hondo
You can see the top of the image Eiffel tower is covered partly by the snipe.
Hondo
The only bit that gets me is the wording at the top "What a joy to see MGM's most spectacular musical..."
I always thought it was original release, but someone said to me it was a re-issue, but I am not sure what that is based on...
Just had a look at a U.S. pressbook on line which has every type of paper available for An American In Paris. Not one of images had a showgirl dancing on them. I believe the red daybill as stated earlier is the original one and copied from original U.S. artwork with a snipe added after the awards happened. I also think it is possible the white background daybill with a different design with the showgirl and different wording is a re-release from around 1956 the last year W.E.Smith stopped printed MGM daybills in Australia.
Hondo
Nevermind, found a better pic...carry on.
And thanks Hondo! Much appreciated as always
Thought I'd show a smiley face because I'm listening in like most people. can't give any info but love the chat. Keep up the good work!
Speak for yourself...old man!
I will be interested in hearing what John has to say. I earlier had a thought on how to tackle this identification of the release dates from a different angle and I should be able to have some confirmation soon to be able to get back here by tomorrow.
Hondo.
Received the confirmation of some information I had thought about but will hold it back until I hear what John has have to say.
Hondo.
Because I probably will want to respond to John's comment at the same time.
Hondo
Campaign Books are the best way to determine these things but they are not easy to find these days. It took me a while to locate the one I have but I think the following images show that both daybills are original.
and the clincher ......
Excellent. It is a pity we don't have access to more pressbooks as they can certainly solve a problem, The U.S pressbook didn't have the second design listed in it so it seems it is rare and therefore a more collectible poster for some than the red one ,although the red one in my opinion is the better of the two. Interestingly the red design is the only one with the snipe added.
I had thought the Australian one sheet may through some light on it but it didn't. Again it is of interest that an awards snipe wasn't attached.The printer was Offset Printing who were printing MGM one sheets around 1952.
Hondo