THE LAST DETAIL (1973) Movie Poster, Vintage Original Aust One Sheet
Size AU One Sheet (27" x 40")
THE LAST DETAIL (1973) Movie Poster, Vintage Original Australian One Sheet, Starring Jack Nicholson, Otis Young & Randy Quaid, Directed by Hal Ashby is in Very Fine+ condition. Movie Poster and...
THE LAST DETAIL (1973) Movie Poster, Vintage Original Australian One Sheet, Starring Jack Nicholson, Otis Young & Randy Quaid, Directed by Hal Ashby is in Very Fine+ condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This original, unrestored Australian One Sheet Movie Poster presents in Very Fine+ condition, Folded as issued but with oblique bottom fold, minor edge bumping/creasing, well preserved and unused poster. This poster is currently stored folded and will be shipped in an acid free archival polyproplene bag with acid free archival backing board. This authentic Vintage Original Australian One Sheet represents a scarce theatrical release format from the early 1970s, measuring approximately 27 x 41 inches. Australian posters from this era were printed in comparatively smaller quantities, making surviving examples increasingly desirable among serious collectors. The bold period design captures the irreverent tone and countercultural spirit of this acclaimed American drama, making it a standout display piece for lovers of New Hollywood cinema.
Movie Synopsis
Released in 1973, The Last Detail is a critically acclaimed American comedy-drama directed by Hal Ashby and adapted from the novel by Darryl Ponicsan. The screenplay was written by Robert Towne, whose sharp, character-driven dialogue helped define the tone of 1970s American filmmaking. The film stars Jack Nicholson in one of his most celebrated early performances, alongside Otis Young and a young Randy Quaid.
The story follows two U.S. Navy petty officers, Billy “Bad Ass” Buddusky (Nicholson) and Mule Mulhall (Young), who are assigned to escort a young sailor, Larry Meadows (Quaid), from Norfolk, Virginia to a naval prison in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Meadows has been sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to steal a small sum of money from a charity box. As Buddusky and Mulhall learn the details of the harsh sentence, they are outraged by what they see as a gross injustice.
Determined to give Meadows a taste of life before incarceration, the two escorts decide to take their time travelling north, introducing him to experiences he has never had. Along the journey, the trio drink heavily, visit bars, encounter colourful characters and confront their own frustrations with military life. What unfolds is a poignant exploration of friendship, freedom and authority, layered with sharp humour and moments of raw emotional honesty.
The Last Detail (1973) is widely regarded as a key entry in the New Hollywood movement, reflecting a period when American cinema embraced more realistic storytelling and morally complex characters. Jack Nicholson’s performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most compelling actors of his generation. The film’s candid language and authentic depiction of enlisted men’s lives were considered bold at the time, contributing to its lasting cultural significance.
Director Hal Ashby, known for his humanistic approach and subtle social commentary, crafts a film that balances humour with melancholy. Beneath its road movie structure lies a powerful meditation on lost youth, institutional control and the fleeting nature of freedom. The wintery settings and understated cinematography enhance the reflective tone, making it a memorable and deeply affecting viewing experience.
This original 1973 Australian one sheet movie poster captures the rebellious energy and character-driven focus of the film. For collectors of Jack Nicholson memorabilia, fans of 1970s cinema, or investors in rare Australian theatrical posters, this piece represents both cinematic history and strong display appeal. Professionally framed, it would make an exceptional centrepiece in any film collection, home theatre or retro-inspired interior.
To find out more about The Last Detail (1973) 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.