THE MANITOU (1978) Movie Poster, Daybill, HORROR/MYSTICISM
Condition Very Fine / Near Mint (9.0)
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
The Manitou (1978) Movie Poster Daybill, Starring Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Directed by William Girdler is in Very Fine/Near Mint Condition. Movie Poster and Condition Condition: This Original Australian Daybill...
The Manitou (1978) Movie Poster Daybill, Starring Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Directed by William Girdler is in Very Fine/Near Mint Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition
Condition: This Original Australian Daybill Movie Poster is presented as Very Fine/Near Mint condition with 2 Daybill folds as issued. This poster is currently stored folded and will be shipped in an acid free archival polyproplene bag with acid free archival backing board. Australian daybill posters were printed in significantly smaller quantities than their US one-sheet counterparts, making them highly collectible. This example presents exceptionally well for its age and is an excellent display piece for fans of 1970s horror cinema, occult films and cult movie memorabilia.
Movie Synopsis
The Manitou (1978) is a cult supernatural horror film that blends mysticism, Native American folklore and body-horror elements into a uniquely unsettling cinematic experience. Directed by William Girdler, a filmmaker best known for his low-budget but influential genre work, the film is based on the novel of the same name by Graham Masterton, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Emerging during a decade obsessed with the occult, following the success of films like The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby, The Manitou stands out for its unusual mythology and surreal tone.
The story follows Karen Tandy, portrayed by Susan Strasberg, a young woman who discovers a mysterious, rapidly growing lump on the back of her neck. What initially appears to be a medical anomaly soon proves to be something far more terrifying. As doctors struggle to explain the phenomenon, Karen’s ex-boyfriend, psychic medium Harry Erskine, played by screen legend Tony Curtis, becomes convinced that the growth is supernatural in origin. His investigation leads him into ancient Native American spiritual beliefs and the concept of the Manitou, a powerful and malevolent spirit capable of reincarnation.
As the entity grows stronger, it becomes clear that Karen is serving as a host for the rebirth of an ancient medicine man bent on reclaiming physical form and unleashing chaos. The film escalates into a series of bizarre and nightmarish sequences, including levitation, psychic battles and an unforgettable hospital-set climax that has cemented the film’s reputation as a cult classic. Supporting performances by Burgess Meredith and Michael Ansara add gravitas, particularly Ansara’s portrayal of a modern shaman attempting to combat the resurrected evil.
Notably, The Manitou features early work by special effects artist Rick Baker, who would later achieve legendary status in Hollywood. Despite its modest budget, the film’s practical effects and imaginative concepts contribute to its lasting appeal among horror enthusiasts. Over time, the movie has gained a devoted following for its fearless embrace of the strange and its willingness to push genre boundaries.
This original Australian daybill movie poster captures the eerie mysticism and horror themes of the film, making it a standout collectible for fans of supernatural horror, cult 1970s cinema and rare international movie posters.
To find out more about The Manitou (1978) 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.