PAL JOEY (1957) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, Frank Sinatra
Condition Very Fine / Near Mint (9.0)
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
PAL JOEY (1957) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, Starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth & Kim Novak, Directed by George Sidney is in Very Fine+ condition. Movie Poster and Condition. Condition:...
PAL JOEY (1957) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, Starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth & Kim Novak, Directed by George Sidney is in Very Fine+ condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This original, unrestored Daybill Movie Poster presents in Very Fine+ condition with 2 Daybill folds as issued, plus small dumps on the folds but they have been flattened out. This authentic Australian Daybill movie poster from the film’s original theatrical release is a wonderful example of 1950s Hollywood cinema advertising.
The unusual thing about this poster on the vast majority of international posters, the star billing typically appears in the order of Rita Hayworth first, followed by Frank Sinatra and then Kim Novak, reflecting Hayworth’s top billing at the time. However, this Australian Daybill design breaks from this standard convention. In this version, the poster artwork features images of Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak only, with no image of Rita Hayworth appearing at all. The bold headline billing also lists Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak prominently, while the lower section of the poster contains a smaller credit line listing the three stars in the order Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, and Rita Hayworth. Aside from this Australian poster, the only other known variation that differs from the typical international billing is a Spanish 3-sheet poster, which lists the stars as Kim Novak, Frank Sinatra, and Rita Hayworth. This unusual design choice makes the Australian Daybill poster particularly distinctive and highly interesting to collectors of classic musicals, Frank Sinatra cinema history, and Golden Age Hollywood artwork.
Movie Synopsis
Pal Joey (1957) is a stylish and sophisticated Hollywood musical drama starring the legendary Frank Sinatra in one of his most charismatic screen roles. Directed by George Sidney and produced by Columbia Pictures, the film is based on the popular Rodgers and Hart Broadway musical, which itself was adapted from the stories by writer John O'Hara. Known for its witty dialogue, memorable songs and glamorous performances, the film remains one of the most celebrated musical adaptations of the 1950s.
Sinatra plays Joey Evans, a charming but opportunistic nightclub singer and entertainer who dreams of owning his own club. Joey’s ambition is matched only by his confidence and ability to win people over, especially wealthy women who can help advance his career. When he arrives in San Francisco, he begins performing at a fashionable nightclub where his talent and personality quickly attract attention.
Among those captivated by Joey is the wealthy and sophisticated widow Vera Simpson, portrayed by Rita Hayworth. Vera becomes both Joey’s romantic interest and financial backer, offering him the opportunity to open his own nightclub. However, Joey’s life becomes complicated when he also develops feelings for the young and idealistic chorus girl Linda English, played by Kim Novak. Linda represents a more genuine and heartfelt connection, creating a romantic triangle that challenges Joey’s priorities and sense of loyalty.
The film features a memorable collection of songs by legendary songwriting duo Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, including classics such as “The Lady Is a Tramp”, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, and “I Could Write a Book.” Sinatra’s effortless vocal style and screen presence helped make these musical numbers iconic, while Hayworth and Novak added glamour and emotional depth to the story.
Although the original Broadway version of Pal Joey was considered daring for its time due to its morally ambiguous protagonist, the film adaptation softened some of the darker elements while still maintaining the character’s roguish charm. Director George Sidney, known for his work on colourful musicals, brought a polished cinematic style to the production, combining vibrant nightclub settings with dynamic musical staging.
Upon its release, the film was praised for its star power and musical performances, particularly Sinatra’s portrayal of Joey as a flawed yet irresistibly charismatic entertainer. The film also helped reinforce Sinatra’s remarkable career resurgence during the 1950s, a decade that saw him deliver some of his most memorable film and music performances.
Today, Pal Joey remains a beloved entry in the catalogue of classic Hollywood musicals, celebrated for its unforgettable songs, glamorous cast and stylish presentation. For collectors of vintage cinema memorabilia, an original theatrical poster from this era represents a striking piece of movie history and a tribute to one of the great musical performers of the twentieth century.
To find out more about Pal Joey (1957) 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.