Australian Movie Posters: What Makes Them So Special?

Australian movie posters are like the shiny wrappers that grab our attention and make us want to see a film. Australian movie posters are particularly special for a few reasons, including their creative designs, local culture, local artists, unique size and their rarity. Let’s dive in and take a look at what makes Australian movie posters so special and unique!

1. Creative Local Design

Australian movie posters are known for their colorful and creative artwork. Many of them feature cool illustrations instead of just photos. For example, the poster for Walkabout (1971) uses bright contrasting colors, with some native Australian iconography, that reflects the wild beauty of Australia and culture. This artistic touch helps tell the film's story even before you see it!

Better design? Superman's Peril (1954), the Australian Daybill (below, left) shows some unique artwork (artist unknown), and compared to the US One Sheet (below, right), the Australian Daybill stands out due to it's superb illustration, making it highly desirable, and a sort after design that shows Superman (George Reeves) standing upright with his iconic stance, fists flat against his hips, elbows and chest out, with striking colours of red, white, black and blue, and yellow background. This combination absolutely POPS! The poster is also a stone litho print, common in Australian posters up until the late 1950's.

2. Local Flavor

Australian has filmed some movies that showcase a truly local flavor. Films that talk about things like the Australian outback, Australian identity, and local social issues. For instance, the poster for The Castle (1997) is funny and nostalgic, capturing a typical Aussie families dream of home ownership in Australia, with themes of family, resilience, and the Australian spirit. Combining humor with a heartfelt narrative.

Older movies like Bullitt (1968), with Steve McQueen, for example, the Australian Daybill took a similar look to the UK design but simpler and more striking in its colour palette choice. This first printing (orange) version shown below is very rare and unique.

3. The 'Daybill' Poster Size

One of the unique things about Australian posters is the Daybill, and its size. It was created in the 1920's to fit nicely in cinema foyers. It is similar in size to the USA Insert, but shorter. Daybill posters measure about 13 by 30 inches (or 33 cm x 76 cm) and are tall and narrow. Over time though, there has been slight variations in sizing throughout the decades. Unlike USA posters, which predominantly had posters produced by the National Screen Service (NSS) that were marked in the bottom right border with information about the year, movie title, and poster version, Australian movie posters were generally only marked with the printers company name. This sometime makes it a little harder to differentiate between an original release and re-release posters, and confirm their age.

Australian Daybills sizes in chronological order:

Long Daybills (15" x 40"), from 1920's to pre-WW2 or pre-1941, were printed two to a sheet, longer than current Daybill versions. There were size variances in width from 14.5" to 15" and in height from 39.5" to 40".
War Time Daybill (10" x 30"), during WW2, for a short time to conserve paper during a war time shortage, four Daybills were printed on one sheet. Information from Press Sheets also referred to these War-Time sizes as "New Size Daybills".
Post-War Daybill (13" x 30"), this 13" x 30" Post-War size carried through until the 1980's, but also varied in size from 13"-14" x 29.75"-30.25".
Post-80's Daybill (33cm x 66cm, or 13" x 26"), over a few years in the late 80's, the size changed again to a metric 33cm x 66cm, although these have also varied from 32-33cm x 64.5-66cm. New sizes from the late 80's were created, sometimes called a Mini Daybill or Mini Poster, in 9" x 12", 11" x 17" and 13" x 20".

Below are some movie posters showing these sizes at their comparable proportions (shown from left to right: Long Daybill, War Time Daybill, Post-War Daybill, Post-80's Daybill):

4. Mix of Styles

Australian posters blend local art with global trends. In the 1980s and 1990s, offset printing techniques changed and posters started to look more like Hollywood's, with glossy finishes and bold colors. For example, the poster for Crocodile Dundee (1986) is bright and exciting, appealing to audiences everywhere. Yet, they still carry a distinctly Aussie flair, especially in films like Mad Max (1979), which mixes gritty elements with striking visuals.

5. Australian Printing Powerhouses

Several printing companies have dominated the production of these posters over the years. Companies like M.A.P.S Litho Pty Ltd, Richardson Studios, Robert Burton Printers Pty Ltd, and W. E. Smith Ltd. are key players. Richardson Studios posters, in particular, have produced some of the best designs known. And the printing companies work helps bring the artists' creative visions to life! I think an article on Australian poster printing companies is a great subject for another article in the future.

6. Eye-Catching Imagery

Australian posters are all about striking imagery/illustration and fonts. For instance, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) shows colorful costumes against the beautiful Australian outback, inviting viewers into the contrast of fashion, life and community. The playful typography adds to the excitement, making people want to see the film.

Older movies like Bullitt (1968), with Steve McQueen, for example, the Australian Daybill took a similar look to the UK design but simpler and more striking in its colour palette choice, using a bright tangerine for the background colour. This first printing (orange) version shown below is becoming a very rare and sort after piece.

7. Nostalgia

These posters also spark nostalgia, reminding people of historic places, events and times from the past. Classic films like Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) or Gallipoli (1981) have posters that many Australians remember fondly. They reflect important moments in Australia’s history and culture.

8. Global Appeal

Australian movie posters help shape how people around the world see Australian films. As more Aussie movies gain popularity, their posters help highlight unique stories and themes. For example, the poster for Strictly Ballroom (1992) explores themes of self-discovery and friendship, highlighting the transformative power of dance in a vibrant Australian setting, drawing in international audiences on a global scale. And again, Crocodile Dundee (1992), grossed over USD$328M internationally to entertain audiences worldwide with Paul Hogan's iconic Australian character, Mick Dundee, against the wild Australian outback.

Summary

In short, Australian movie posters are special for their creative designs, local culture, and eye-catching styles. With their unique sizes, especially the Daybill, and the help of skilled printing companies, these posters tell stories that resonate with local audiences and collectors worldwide. Their lower quantity print runs also make them rarer than their US counterparts, with some early titles extremely rare. As Australian cinema continues to grow, the magic of these posters remains a big part of the experience, showcasing the diverse stories that make Australia shine!

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