2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) Movie Poster, Aust One Sheet, 1st Release and Printing
Size AU One Sheet (27" x 40")
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) Movie Poster, Australian One Sheet 1st Release, 1st Printing, used in the Royal Theatre in Castlemaine, Victoria, RARE Starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, Directed by Stanley...
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) Movie Poster, Australian One Sheet 1st Release, 1st Printing, used in the Royal Theatre in Castlemaine, Victoria, RARE Starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, Directed by Stanley Kubrick is in Fine- condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This original, vintage, unrestored Australian One Sheet Movie Poster presents as Fine- condition, First release, first printing, used in the Royal Cinema, Castlemaine, Victoria, with some staple holes and small tears, marks, edge bumps, small marks and some additional fold lines (see images). This poster would linen back well with only light restoration needed to present beautifully. A rare title. This genuine Australian One Sheet is an exceptional piece of cinema history, particularly given its documented theatrical use, adding provenance and authenticity. While the poster artist is not formally credited, the design reflects the minimalist and thought-provoking aesthetic associated with the film’s iconic promotional campaign, making it highly desirable among serious collectors.
Movie Synopsis
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is a landmark in science fiction cinema, directed by the visionary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick and co-written with renowned author Arthur C. Clarke. Widely regarded as one of the most influential films ever made, it redefined the genre through its ambitious storytelling, philosophical depth, and groundbreaking visual effects.
The film unfolds across multiple chapters, beginning with “The Dawn of Man,” where prehistoric hominids encounter a mysterious black monolith that appears to trigger a leap in human evolution. This enigmatic object becomes a recurring symbol throughout the film, representing the unknown forces guiding humanity’s progress.
The narrative then shifts to the near future, where a similar monolith is discovered buried on the Moon, emitting a powerful signal toward Jupiter. This discovery leads to a deep-space mission aboard the spacecraft Discovery One, commanded by astronauts Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood). Assisting them is HAL 9000, an advanced artificial intelligence system designed to control the ship and ensure mission success.
As the journey progresses, HAL begins to exhibit unsettling behaviour, raising questions about machine reliability and human dependence on technology. The tension builds into a gripping confrontation between man and machine, making HAL one of the most memorable antagonists in film history. The film’s exploration of AI consciousness, human evolution, and existential purpose remains deeply relevant today.
The final act ventures into abstract and surreal territory, as Bowman encounters the monolith once more and undergoes a transformation that transcends time and space. This sequence, often referred to as the “Star Gate,” is celebrated for its experimental visuals and remains one of the most analysed moments in cinematic history.
Technically revolutionary, 2001: A Space Odyssey set new standards for special effects, utilising innovative techniques that still impress modern audiences. Kubrick’s meticulous attention to detail, combined with a haunting classical score featuring works by Strauss and Ligeti, creates an immersive and unforgettable experience.
Today, the film is considered a masterpiece of modern cinema, influencing generations of filmmakers and continuing to inspire discussion and interpretation. This rare Australian One Sheet poster is not only a stunning display piece but also a significant artefact from one of the most important films ever produced, making it a must-have for collectors of science fiction memorabilia.
To find out more about 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) click here to go to IMDB.com.
Special Notes.
Images may have a small 'MPA' digital watermark and this does not appear on the poster. Posters are being held by magnets in the corners to take photographs, so you may see some magnet and shadows from the magnets in these areas. The magnets are not included in the sale of the item.
Postage, Insurance & Your Country Taxes
Postage costs are quoted for this item, include insurance up to AUD$100, but if you reside outside of Australia, the price does not include any import taxes/fees that you may be required to pay when the item reaches your borders. Please check with your local authorities for any additional taxes or fees. If you would like full insurance coverage for your purchase, please message me and I would be happy to quote the additional cost (estimate is AUD$2.50 p/AUD$100 or 2.5% of the item value, up to a maximum item value of AUD$5,000).
FAQ
At Movie Posters Australia, the love and conservation of movie posters comes first, and we like to share this passion. Our commitment to quality means we will provide high quality memorabilia to our customers. Posters are carefully chosen and authenticated to ensure originality and value. We want our customers to trust MPA, so we always try to be as open and transparent as we can, provide detailed condition information and images, to ensure customers are comfortable and confident in their purchase.
While the industry does have a few condition rating standards, there is no movie poster condition rating system that has become the accepted standard world wide. This unfortunately makes condition terms vary from movie poster dealer to movie poster dealer. Terms like Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, seem to be universal to most condition rating standards, but most standards still lack definition about what and how many flaws/defects/damage defines a specific condition level. For more information on how Movie Posters Australia grades the condition of its movie posters, daybills, lobby cards and other ephemera please see out Movie Poster Condition and Grading page.
In the early days of cinema, posters were primarily hand-drawn and printed in various sizes, often tailored to fit the available space in theaters or promotional areas. In the United States, the "One Sheet" size (some times called '1 Sheet' or '1SH' approximately 27" x 41", became the standard during the 1930s. This size was manageable for theater display and suited the needs of a growing film industry.
Different countries developed their own poster sizes and styles, which also changed sometimes over the decades, and were influenced by local preferences and practical considerations, like available paper sheet sizes and how many posters could be printed on one sheet.
In Australia, the most popular size, the Daybill, has evolved over the decades. Australian Daybills sizes in chronological order are:
- 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".
In the UK, the somewhat unique 'Quad' poster, measuring 30" x 40", became popular, offering a larger landscape format that allowed for more elaborate designs.
In Japan, movie poster sizes were smaller, such as the "B2" (20" x 28"), which suited the more compact living environment of larger cities, smaller advertising spaces, and unique aesthetic sensibilities.
The 1970s and 1980s, witnessed the rise of the "six-sheet" (81" x 81") format, reflecting a trend towards larger and more visually impactful advertising.
Overall, the variation in movie poster sizes across different countries and decades highlights the interplay between technological printing advancements, paper resource availability, paper sheet size changes, cultural preferences, and the evolving nature of movie marketing.
At Movie Posters Australia we tag each poster we sell with a 'size' and 'condition' description at the very top of the page for our customers to easily see. There may however be some slight variations to sizes by up one inch due to variations in production and guillotine methods by printers over the decades.