PIRATES (1986) Movie Poster, Original US One Sheet, Walter Matthau
Size US One Sheet Post '85 (27" x 40")
PIRATES (1986) Movie Poster, Original US One Sheet, Walter Matthau, Cris Campion, Damien Thomas, Directed by Roman Polanski is in Very Fine Condition. Movie Poster and Condition. Condition: This poster...
PIRATES (1986) Movie Poster, Original US One Sheet, Walter Matthau, Cris Campion, Damien Thomas, Directed by Roman Polanski is in Very Fine Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This poster is presented in Very Fine condition, with 3 horizontal and 1 vertical fold, no separation exists, plus 4 small pin holes in each corner. This original US One Sheet remains a highly displayable and desirable example from one of the most ambitious adventure films of the 1980s. Folded as originally distributed to cinemas, the poster retains strong presentation qualities and authentic theatrical character. Original release posters for classic pirate films and large-scale historical adventures continue to attract collectors due to their nostalgic appeal and limited availability in collector-grade condition.
Movie Synopsis
Released in 1986, Pirates is an extravagant historical adventure film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Roman Polanski. Known for creating visually distinctive cinema across multiple genres, Polanski brought a large-scale cinematic vision to this swashbuckling tale set during the age of piracy. The screenplay was written by Roman Polanski together with Gérard Brach, a frequent collaborator whose writing contributed to several of Polanski’s most recognised productions.
The film stars legendary actor Walter Matthau in a rare leading adventure role as Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red, an ageing but cunning pirate captain whose greatest assets are his wit, survival instincts and relentless pursuit of fortune. Alongside him is French actor Cris Campion, who portrays Frog, Red’s loyal companion and occasional voice of reason as the pair navigate dangerous waters and impossible situations.
The story begins with Captain Red and Frog stranded at sea, exhausted and near death before being rescued by a Spanish galleon. Rather than accepting salvation peacefully, Red quickly identifies an opportunity for wealth and power. Upon discovering rumours of an enormous golden throne aboard the vessel, he becomes determined to seize control of the ship and claim the treasure for himself.
What follows is an energetic journey filled with mutiny, betrayal, naval battles and elaborate schemes. Red manipulates enemies and allies alike while Frog increasingly questions whether loyalty to his captain is worth the endless chaos. The relationship between the two becomes the emotional centre of the film and creates moments of humour amongst the action and spectacle.
Pirates (1986) became notable for its extraordinary production values. The filmmakers constructed an enormous full-scale pirate ship specifically for the production, designed to replicate a seventeenth-century vessel with remarkable historical detail. At the time, the project was regarded as one of the most expensive European film productions ever attempted. The elaborate ship, costumes and practical effects showcased Polanski’s dedication to creating an immersive cinematic experience long before modern CGI became standard.
Despite receiving mixed reactions upon release, the film developed appreciation among audiences who admired its ambitious scope, detailed production design and Walter Matthau’s charismatic performance. Rather than presenting pirates as romantic heroes, the movie embraced a dirtier, more chaotic and often comedic interpretation of seafaring life, giving it a distinctive identity amongst classic pirate adventure movies.
Today, Pirates remains a fascinating cult-era adventure film and a unique entry in Roman Polanski’s filmography. Original theatrical posters from this release have become increasingly sought after by collectors of vintage movie posters, historical adventure cinema and fans of elaborate practical filmmaking.
To find out more about Pirates (1986) 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.