THE KILLERS (1964) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, Lee Marvin
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
THE KILLERS (1964) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, starring Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson & John Cassavetes, Directed by Don Siegel, is in Very Fine+ Condition. Movie Poster and Condition. Condition:...
THE KILLERS (1964) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, starring Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson & John Cassavetes, Directed by Don Siegel, 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, neat pin holes in each corner, minor Edgewear left hand side near the 1st fold. This authentic vintage Daybill poster is a highly desirable piece for collectors of classic crime and film noir cinema. The Australian Daybill format is unique and increasingly rare, making it a standout addition to any serious collection. Featuring bold and striking artwork typical of 1960s crime films, this poster captures the gritty tone and suspense of the movie, offering both visual appeal and historical significance.
Movie Synopsis
Released in 1964, The Killers is a hard-hitting crime thriller directed by Don Siegel and based loosely on a short story by legendary author Ernest Hemingway. Known for its intense pacing and stylised violence, the film stands as a powerful example of 1960s neo-noir cinema, blending classic noir themes with a more modern, brutal edge.
The story opens with a shocking sequence in which two professional hitmen, played by Lee Marvin and Clu Gulager, carry out the execution of a former race car driver turned schoolteacher, Johnny North, portrayed by John Cassavetes. What sets the film apart is the victim’s passive acceptance of his fate, sparking curiosity in the hitmen, who decide to investigate why their target did not attempt to escape.
As they dig deeper, the narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks, revealing a complex web of betrayal, crime, and passion. Central to the story is the enigmatic and seductive Sheila Farr, played by Angie Dickinson, whose involvement in a daring heist and her manipulative relationships drive much of the film’s tension. The deeper the killers probe, the more they uncover about greed, deception, and the inevitable consequences of a life steeped in crime.
The Killers is notable for its innovative storytelling structure, using non-linear narrative techniques that were ahead of their time. Don Siegel’s direction brings a raw intensity to the film, while the screenplay expands significantly on Hemingway’s original story, creating a richly layered plot filled with suspense and intrigue.
Interestingly, this film was originally intended as a television production but was deemed too violent for broadcast at the time, leading to its theatrical release instead. It also marked one of the early dramatic roles for Ronald Reagan, making it historically significant beyond its cinematic achievements.
Today, The Killers (1964) is regarded as a cult classic, admired for its gritty realism, compelling performances, and stylish direction. This original Australian Daybill movie poster perfectly reflects the film’s dark and compelling atmosphere, making it a must-have for collectors of vintage crime film posters and classic Hollywood memorabilia.
To find out more about The Killers (1964) 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.