THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963) Movie Poster, Re-release Vintage Original Daybill
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963) Movie Poster, 60's Re-Release Vintage Original Daybill starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, directed by John Sturges is in Very Fine+ Condition. Movie Poster and...
THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963) Movie Poster, 60's Re-Release Vintage Original Daybill starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, directed by John Sturges is in Very Fine+ Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This original, unrestored Australian Daybill Movie Poster presents as Very Fine+ condition, with 2 daybill folds as issued with an extra fold below the 2nd one, and 4 neat pin holes in each corner, otherwise in excellent condition. This authentic Australian Daybill movie poster is a highly collectible piece of cinema history, prized for its distinctive size and format unique to Australia. The poster displays beautifully with crisp imagery and strong colour retention, while the additional fold and minor pin holes are consistent with theatrical use. A fantastic example of a vintage original film poster from one of the most iconic war films ever produced. The poster’s design captures the spirit of adventure and tension, reflecting the film’s epic scale and ensemble cast.
Movie Synopsis
The Great Escape (1963) is truely one of our favourite movies of all time and is widely regarded as one of the greatest World War II films ever made, combining action, suspense, and unforgettable performances. Directed by John Sturges and based on a true story, the film chronicles a daring mass escape by Allied prisoners of war from a German POW camp during World War II.
The film features an all-star international cast led by Steve McQueen as the rebellious American pilot Captain Virgil Hilts, famously known as “The Cooler King”. Alongside him are standout performances from James Garner as the resourceful scrounger Hendley, and Richard Attenborough as Roger Bartlett, the determined British officer who masterminds the escape plan.
Set in a high-security German prison camp designed to hold habitual escapees, the story follows a group of Allied prisoners who refuse to accept captivity. Instead, they devise an ambitious plan to dig not one, but three tunnels—nicknamed “Tom,” “Dick,” and “Harry” with the aim of freeing over 250 men. The film meticulously details the ingenuity, teamwork, and sheer determination required to carry out such a complex operation under constant surveillance.
What sets The Great Escape apart is its balance of character development and thrilling action sequences. Steve McQueen’s iconic motorcycle chase scene has become one of the most celebrated moments in film history, symbolising defiance and the relentless pursuit of freedom. The film’s screenplay, written by James Clavell and W.R. Burnett, blends humour, tension, and tragedy, offering a deeply human portrayal of courage and sacrifice.
While the film takes some creative liberties, it remains grounded in real events, inspired by the mass escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944. Its legacy endures through its powerful storytelling, memorable score by Elmer Bernstein, and its exploration of camaraderie in the face of adversity.
Today, The Great Escape (1963) stands as a timeless classic and a cornerstone of war cinema. This original Australian Daybill movie poster represents a rare opportunity for collectors and film enthusiasts to own a piece of cinematic history associated with one of the most beloved and influential films of all time.
To find out more about The Great Escape (1963) 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.