THE KEEP (1983) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, Sir Ian McKellen
Condition Very Fine / Near Mint (9.0)
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
THE KEEP (1983) Original Vintage Movie Poster, Daybill, Starring Ian McKellen, Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Jürgen Prochnow and Directed by Michael Mann is in Very Fine/Near Mint condition. Movie Poster...
THE KEEP (1983) Original Vintage Movie Poster, Daybill, Starring Ian McKellen, Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Jürgen Prochnow and Directed by Michael Mann is in Very Fine/Near Mint condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This Original Daybill, Movie Poster is presented in Very Fine/Near Mint condition, 2 Daybill folds as issued, this poster presents in excellent condition with a colourful clean presentation with no issues. This original Australian Daybill movie poster is a collectable piece of 1980s cinema memorabilia, representing Michael Mann's atmospheric supernatural horror film. Its distinctive theatrical format makes it an appealing addition for collectors of vintage horror movie posters, classic science-fiction cinema and original film advertising. Featuring the film's title and imagery, this vintage poster recalls the film's striking gothic atmosphere and its unusual blend of wartime drama, fantasy and horror.
Movie Synopsis
Directed and written for the screen by Michael Mann, The Keep (1983) is a dark supernatural horror film set in German-occupied Romania during the Second World War. Adapted from the 1981 novel by F. Paul Wilson, the film combines wartime tension, ancient mythology and gothic horror within the imposing setting of a mysterious fortress in the Carpathian Mountains. Its cast includes Scott Glenn, Ian McKellen, Jürgen Prochnow, Gabriel Byrne, Alberta Watson and Robert Prosky.
In 1943, a German military unit arrives at a remote mountain pass and takes up residence inside an enormous stone fortress known as the Keep. Captain Klaus Woermann, played by Jürgen Prochnow, is responsible for maintaining order among the troops. The fortress, however, is unlike any ordinary military stronghold. Its walls contain strange metallic crosses and mysterious inscriptions, while local villagers warn the soldiers that the structure has a sinister history. Despite these warnings, the men disturb something ancient that has been imprisoned within the building for centuries.
After the soldiers begin dying in terrifying circumstances, the situation attracts the attention of the ruthless SS officer Major Kaempffer, portrayed by Gabriel Byrne. Determined to establish control and discover the cause of the deaths, Kaempffer demands answers. The local authorities are unable to explain the mysterious events, so the Germans turn to Dr Theodore Cuza, a Jewish historian and expert in ancient languages, played by Sir Ian McKellen. Cuza is brought to the fortress and ordered to interpret the inscriptions, hoping that his knowledge will reveal the secret behind the killings.
As Cuza investigates, he begins to understand that the Keep was constructed not simply as a defensive fortress, but as a prison for a powerful supernatural entity. The creature, known as Molasar, possesses extraordinary abilities and can draw strength from the life force of those around it. Its influence grows as the soldiers fall victim to its power. Cuza's daughter Eva, played by Alberta Watson, is drawn into the unfolding mystery, while the historian becomes increasingly fascinated by the possibility of communicating with the entity.
Meanwhile, a mysterious traveller named Glaeken Trismegestus, portrayed by Scott Glenn, arrives in the region. Unlike the soldiers and villagers, Glaeken understands the true nature of the ancient threat and appears to have a connection with it that reaches far beyond the events of the war. As the supernatural force becomes stronger, the characters are caught between human conflict and an ancient struggle that threatens everyone within the fortress.
The Keep is notable for its unusual visual style, shadow-filled cinematography and atmospheric electronic score by German music group Tangerine Dream. Cinematographer Alex Thomson and production designer John Box helped create the film's imposing, dreamlike environments. Filming took place in North Wales and at Shepperton Studios in England. The production also became known for extensive editing difficulties: Michael Mann's original version was reportedly much longer than the 96-minute theatrical release. The finished film remains a distinctive and often-discussed entry in the director's career, particularly among fans of cult horror, dark fantasy and 1980s genre cinema.
With its combination of World War II history, supernatural mythology, memorable performances and evocative music, The Keep (1983) offers a singular cinematic experience. Its striking atmosphere and unusual premise have helped it maintain a dedicated following among collectors and enthusiasts of cult films. An original vintage movie poster from this release is a desirable piece of film history, particularly for admirers of Michael Mann, Ian McKellen and classic 1980s horror cinema.
To find out more about The Keep (1983) 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).
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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.