STREETS OF FIRE (1984) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, DYSTOPIAN
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
STREETS OF FIRE (1984) Original Vintage Movie Poster Daybill, Starring Michael Paré, Diane Lane, Rick Moranis, Amy Madigan & Willem Dafoe, Directed by Walter Hill is in Very Fine Condition. ...
STREETS OF FIRE (1984) Original Vintage Movie Poster Daybill, Starring Michael Paré, Diane Lane, Rick Moranis, Amy Madigan & Willem Dafoe, Directed by Walter Hill 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, edgewear on the right hand side and some slight yellowint on the back of the poster but does not show through otherwise its in excellent condition with a colourful clean presentation.
This original vintage Australian daybill movie poster for Streets of Fire (1984) is a striking piece of 1980s cinema memorabilia. Promoted as a rock-and-roll fable, this distinctive film blends action, romance, music and a stylised urban atmosphere into an unforgettable cinematic experience. Its dystopian-inspired setting, rebellious characters and energetic soundtrack make it an appealing collectible for fans of cult cinema, Walter Hill films and vintage movie poster art. An original Australian daybill offers collectors a piece of the film's theatrical advertising history, with a format that is particularly desirable for those building collections of classic movie posters from the era.
Movie Synopsis
Streets of Fire (1984) is a visually distinctive action musical directed by Walter Hill, the filmmaker behind influential genre classics including The Warriors and 48 Hrs. Described in its promotional campaign as “A Rock & Roll Fable”, the film creates a heightened, alternative vision of America where retro fashion, neon-lit streets, rock music and motorcycle gangs combine in a world that feels both nostalgic and futuristic. Often associated with dystopian cinema, it presents a stylised urban landscape in which music and violence share centre stage.
The story begins when Ellen Aim, played by Diane Lane, a popular rock singer, is abducted during a performance by Raven Shaddock and his motorcycle gang, the Bombers. Raven is played by Willem Dafoe, whose intense performance gives the gang leader a menacing presence. Ellen's kidnapping prompts her former boyfriend, Tom Cody, portrayed by Michael Paré, to return to the neighbourhood where they grew up. A tough, independent character with a troubled past, Tom agrees to rescue Ellen and becomes caught up in a dangerous mission through the city's hostile streets.
Tom is joined by Ellen's manager and current partner, Billy Fish, played by Rick Moranis, whose anxious, fast-talking personality provides a contrast to Tom's quiet determination. The unlikely group also includes McCoy, a capable former soldier and mechanic portrayed by Amy Madigan. Practical, fearless and skilled with a weapon, McCoy proves to be an essential ally as the rescue operation unfolds. Together, they navigate rival gangs, confrontations and the unpredictable dangers of a city ruled by its own street-level codes.
Rather than pursuing strict realism, director Walter Hill builds a heightened world inspired by rock-and-roll mythology, classic action films and stylised urban storytelling. The production combines dramatic lighting, expressive costumes, carefully choreographed action and a memorable musical identity. The soundtrack features songs performed by Fire Inc., including the powerful numbers “Nowhere Fast” and “Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young”, which help establish the film's enduring reputation among fans of 1980s music and cult cinema.
The screenplay was written by Walter Hill, with story contributions from Larry Gross. Although the film did not achieve the commercial success initially hoped for upon release, its unusual blend of genres, distinctive visual style and music-driven storytelling have helped it develop a lasting cult following. Its fictional city feels removed from everyday reality, creating a timeless environment of chrome, leather, rain-slicked streets and rock concerts. This carefully constructed atmosphere is a major part of the film's appeal and explains why it continues to attract collectors and enthusiasts.
For fans of 1980s cult movies, action cinema and rock soundtracks, Streets of Fire remains a memorable example of ambitious genre filmmaking. This original Australian daybill poster celebrates a film that dared to create its own cinematic universe, making it an appealing addition to collections focused on vintage movie advertising, cult classics, dystopian-inspired films and the distinctive visual culture of the 1980s.
To find out more about Streets of Fire (1984) 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.