CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) Movie Poster Daybill, Schwarzenegger
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) Movie Poster Daybill, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Directed by John Milius Movie Poster and Condition Although unused and in fantastic condition, there is some foxing (brown spotting on...
CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) Movie Poster Daybill, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Directed by John Milius
Movie Poster and Condition
Although unused and in fantastic condition, there is some foxing (brown spotting on the back) generally caused by acid content in the paper stock, primarily in the center. This spotting, however, isn't showing through to the front of the poster and if it was linen backed, that usually includes de-acidification, I believe this spotting would all but disappear. Although the front presents in Very Fine+ condition, due to the spotting on the back, I would rate this conservatively as Very Fine.
Movie Synopsis
Conan the Barbarian (1982) is a seminal fantasy epic that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger into stardom and defined the sword-and-sorcery genre for a generation. Directed by John Milius and co-written by Milius and Oliver Stone, the film is based on the iconic character created by Robert E. Howard. This Australian Daybill movie poster captures the raw power and mythical allure of the film, making it a coveted piece of fantasy movie memorabilia for collectors. With its bold imagery and historical significance, this Conan the Barbarian poster is a must-have for fans of 1980s cinema and Schwarzenegger’s legendary career.
The story follows Conan, a Cimmerian warrior played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, on a quest for vengeance after his village is destroyed and his parents are killed by the sinister Thulsa Doom, portrayed by James Earl Jones. As Conan grows from a boy enslaved in a brutal world to a formidable warrior, he teams up with allies like Subotai (Gerry Lopez), a skilled thief, and Valeria (Sandahl Bergman), a fierce warrior queen. Their journey pits them against supernatural forces, deadly cults, and monstrous creatures, culminating in an epic battle against Doom’s snake-worshipping empire. The film’s gritty violence, mythological undertones, and muscular heroism resonate with fans of fantasy adventure films.
Directed by John Milius, known for his work on Apocalypse Now, Conan the Barbarian is a visual feast, blending visceral action with a mythic narrative. The film’s production, handled by Universal Pictures and Dino De Laurentiis, was shot across stunning locations in Spain, including Almería and Segovia, which provided the rugged landscapes and ancient fortresses that brought Conan’s world to life. An interesting fact is that Schwarzenegger performed many of his own stunts, including sword fights and horse-riding scenes, despite suffering injuries during filming. The production also faced challenges with animal welfare concerns, as real snakes were used in scenes involving Thulsa Doom’s cult, sparking controversy at the time.
The film’s iconic score, composed by Basil Poledouris, is widely regarded as one of the greatest in fantasy cinema, with its thunderous orchestral themes amplifying Conan’s heroic journey. The makeup and special effects, overseen by Carlo Rambaldi, who designed the creatures in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, brought grotesque monsters like the giant snake to vivid life. The film’s budget, around USD$20 million, was substantial for the time, but it paid off, grossing over USD$68 million worldwide and cementing Conan the Barbarian as a cultural touchstone.
This Australian Daybill poster, measuring approximately 13 x 30 inches, showcases bold artwork that captures Conan’s muscular silhouette and the film’s epic scope. In Very Fine condition, the poster is unused, with only minor foxing on the back that does not affect its front-facing appearance. Stored in an acid free polyprop bag with an acid free backing board, this movie poster is well-preserved for collectors of 1980s movie memorabilia or Arnold Schwarzenegger collectibles. The foxing, caused by acid in the paper stock, could potentially be mitigated through professional linen backing, enhancing the poster’s longevity and value.
To find out more about Conan the Barbarian (1982) 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.