TORTILLA FLAT (1942) Movie Herald, Original Vintage, Spencer Tracey, RARE
Size Herald (5"x7", 6"x9")
TORTILLA FLAT (1942) Movie Double Sided, Herald Original Vintage, Very RARE, measuring approx 9.5 x 12.5 inches, printed on heavier paper, Starring Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, John Garfield, Directed by Victor...
TORTILLA FLAT (1942) Movie Double Sided, Herald Original Vintage, Very RARE, measuring approx 9.5 x 12.5 inches, printed on heavier paper, Starring Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, John Garfield, Directed by Victor Fleming is in Very Fine+ Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This original, vintage, unrestored double sided Herald measures approx 9.5 x 12.5 inches presents as Very Fine+ condition, printed with a heavier weight paper and only has some minor handling wear which is common for the age of the herald. This highly collectible original vintage movie herald is a rare piece of early 1940s cinema advertising, offering both historical significance and strong display appeal. Printed as a double-sided promotional item, heralds were typically distributed to promote films at local theatres, making surviving examples increasingly scarce. The light handling wear is consistent with age and does not detract from the overall presentation, preserving its value as an authentic piece of Golden Age Hollywood memorabilia. While the specific poster artist is uncredited, the design reflects the classic illustrative style of the era, capturing the warmth and charm of the film.
Movie Synopsis
Tortilla Flat (1942) is a richly textured drama directed by Victor Fleming, the acclaimed filmmaker behind classics such as Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Based on the novel by John Steinbeck, the film presents a heartfelt and often humorous portrayal of life among a group of paisanos living in Monterey, California, during the years following World War I.
The story centres on Pilon (Spencer Tracy), a charismatic and philosophical drifter who returns to his hometown and quickly becomes the unofficial leader of a band of carefree friends. When his companion Danny inherits two houses, the group forms an unconventional communal living arrangement, sharing food, wine, and companionship in a loosely structured existence that values friendship over material wealth.
Among the ensemble cast are John Garfield as the strong but impulsive Pablo and Hedy Lamarr as the enigmatic and alluring Dolores Ramirez. Each character brings their own personality and quirks, contributing to a narrative that blends comedy, drama, and social commentary. The film explores themes of loyalty, morality, and the tension between freedom and responsibility, all set against a picturesque Californian backdrop.
Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the film was notable for its high production values and strong performances. Spencer Tracy’s portrayal of Pilon earned particular praise for its depth and warmth, showcasing his ability to balance humour with emotional resonance. The screenplay adapts Steinbeck’s episodic novel into a cohesive narrative while retaining its spirit and character-driven storytelling.
An interesting aspect of Tortilla Flat is its attempt to capture the cultural nuances of Steinbeck’s work during a time when Hollywood often simplified such portrayals. While modern audiences may view certain elements through a different lens, the film remains an important example of early literary adaptation in American cinema.
Today, Tortilla Flat (1942) is appreciated as a classic Hollywood drama that combines strong performances with thoughtful storytelling. For collectors, this original vintage movie herald offers a rare and tangible connection to the film’s original theatrical promotion and the enduring legacy of Golden Age filmmaking.
To find out more about Tortilla Flat (1942) 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.