Cocoon (1985) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, Don Ameche, SCI-FI
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
COCOON (1985) Original Vintage Movie Poster Daybill, Starring Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Directed by Ron Howard is in Very Fine Condition. Movie Poster and Condition. Condition:...
COCOON (1985) Original Vintage Movie Poster Daybill, Starring Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Directed by Ron Howard is in Very Fine Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This Original Daybill, Movie Poster is presented in Very Fine condition, 2 Daybill folds as issued, a small 2mm tear on the 2nd fold on right hand side, 4 neat pin holes in each corner, otherwise its in excellent condition with a colourful clean presentation.
This original vintage Australian daybill movie poster promotes Cocoon (1985), the much-loved science fiction fantasy directed by Ron Howard. Combining extraterrestrial mystery, humour, romance and an uplifting story about ageing and the possibilities of life, this Academy Award-winning film became one of the memorable science fiction releases of the 1980s. An appealing collectible for fans of classic science fiction movies, vintage cinema advertising and 1980s Hollywood, this original Australian movie poster represents a distinctive piece of theatrical history. Its connection to a film that balances extraordinary discoveries with familiar human emotions makes it an interesting addition to a collection of original vintage movie posters.
Movie Synopsis
Cocoon (1985) is a science fiction fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, who would go on to become one of Hollywood's most successful filmmakers. Based on an original screenplay by Tom Benedek, the film explores an unusual encounter between a group of elderly residents in Florida and visitors from another world. Rather than concentrating on alien invasion or intergalactic warfare, Cocoon tells a warm, character-driven story about friendship, ageing, love and the desire to feel young again.
The story centres on a retirement community where three residents, Ben Luckett, played by Wilford Brimley, Arthur Selwyn, played by Don Ameche, and Joseph Finley, played by Hume Cronyn, begin looking for ways to escape the routines of their everyday lives. Their quiet world changes when they discover that swimming in a neighbouring property's swimming pool has an extraordinary effect on their energy and vitality. The pool's unusual properties are connected to mysterious objects submerged beneath the water, setting in motion a remarkable chain of events.
The objects are cocoons containing members of an extraterrestrial civilisation. These beings have returned to Earth to recover companions who were left behind thousands of years earlier. Their mission is overseen by Walter, portrayed by Brian Dennehy, who takes human form while organising the recovery operation. The visitors have been using the swimming pool as a temporary resting place for their cocoons, unaware that the elderly neighbours have begun discovering its rejuvenating effects.
Among the alien visitors is Kitty, played by Tahnee Welch, who develops a particularly close connection with Jack, a local boat captain portrayed by Steve Guttenberg. Their relationship adds a romantic dimension to the film while highlighting the emotional and ethical complications that arise when two very different worlds meet. Meanwhile, the retirement community's residents must confront a difficult choice. The mysterious pool offers renewed strength and the possibility of escaping the physical limitations of old age, but the extraordinary opportunity comes with consequences for their families, friendships and future.
Jessica Tandy plays Alma Finley, Joseph's wife, bringing emotional depth to the story's exploration of long-term relationships and the realities of growing older. The film treats its older characters with warmth and dignity, allowing their humour, regrets, romantic feelings and hopes for the future to drive the narrative. The science fiction premise becomes a way to examine universal questions about mortality, personal freedom and what makes life meaningful.
The production combines practical effects, underwater photography and imaginative visual sequences to bring its extraterrestrial visitors and mysterious cocoons to life. The film's gentle approach distinguishes it from many darker science fiction productions of the period. Its blend of fantasy, comedy and heartfelt drama helped it appeal to audiences beyond traditional science fiction fans.
Cocoon was a major success and received four Academy Award nominations, winning two Oscars: Best Supporting Actor for Don Ameche and Best Visual Effects. Ameche's performance was particularly celebrated, providing a memorable late-career highlight. The film's success also led to the sequel Cocoon: The Return in 1988. Today, the original remains a popular example of 1980s science fiction filmmaking, remembered for its optimistic outlook, engaging ensemble cast and unusual blend of extraterrestrial adventure with human emotion.
For collectors, this original 1985 Cocoon movie poster offers a nostalgic connection to a film that captured the imagination of audiences through its fresh take on the alien encounter story. It is an appealing choice for enthusiasts of classic science fiction, Ron Howard films, Academy Award-winning cinema and original Australian daybill posters from the golden era of 1980s movie advertising.
To find out more about Cocoon (1985) 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.