THE GREAT RACE (1965) Movie Poster, Origina l Vintage Daybill, 2 Colour
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
THE GREAT RACE (1965) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, 2 Colour, RARE, Starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, Directed by Blake Edwards is in Very Fine+ Condition. Movie Poster...
THE GREAT RACE (1965) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, 2 Colour, RARE, Starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, Directed by Blake Edwards 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 and staple holes in each corner, may have slight handling wear due to age of the poster. This highly collectible original vintage Australian Daybill showcases the rare charming two-colour design style typical of mid-1960s cinema advertising, making it a standout piece for collectors of classic comedy film memorabilia. The poster’s clean presentation and strong structural integrity enhance its display appeal, while its authentic folds and minor staple marks reflect its genuine theatrical use.
Movie Synopsis
The Great Race (1965) is a lavish, high-energy slapstick comedy directed by Blake Edwards, renowned for his work on The Pink Panther series. This ambitious film pays homage to early silent-era comedies while delivering a colourful and chaotic adventure across continents. Set in the early 20th century, the story follows the heroic and impeccably dressed Professor Fate’s rival, the noble and daring Leslie Gallant III (played by Tony Curtis), as he embarks on a daring New York to Paris automobile race.
The villainous yet hilariously inept Professor Fate, portrayed by Jack Lemmon in a dual role, is determined to sabotage Leslie’s efforts at every turn. Accompanied by his loyal assistant Max (Peter Falk), Fate devises increasingly absurd schemes to ensure victory. Meanwhile, spirited journalist Maggie DuBois (Natalie Wood) insists on joining the race, adding both romantic tension and comedic friction to the journey.
The film is celebrated for its spectacular set pieces, including the legendary pie fight sequence, which remains one of the largest and most iconic in cinematic history. With elaborate costumes, inventive gadgets, and an episodic narrative spanning icy landscapes, European cities, and royal intrigue, The Great Race captures the grandeur of classic Hollywood filmmaking.
Behind the scenes, the production was one of the most expensive comedies of its time, showcasing Edwards’ dedication to large-scale visual comedy. The screenplay, co-written by Blake Edwards and Arthur A. Ross, blends witty dialogue with physical humour inspired by legends like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Jack Lemmon’s performance, in particular, stands out for its versatility and comedic timing, making his portrayal of Professor Fate a fan favourite.
This film remains a beloved example of 1960s epic comedy cinema, admired for its ambition, charm, and timeless humour. For collectors and fans alike, memorabilia such as this original 1965 Daybill poster represents a unique connection to a golden era of filmmaking.
To find out more about The Great Race (1965) 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.