VANISHING POINT (1971) Movie Advertisement Poster, Barry Newman
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
VANISHING POINT (1971) Movie Advertisement Daybill-sized Poster, starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, directed by Richard C. Sarafian is in Fine Condition. Movie Poster and Condition Condition: This Rare Vintage Daybill-Sized Movie...
VANISHING POINT (1971) Movie Advertisement Daybill-sized Poster, starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, directed by Richard C. Sarafian is in Fine Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition
Condition: This Rare Vintage Daybill-Sized Movie Advertisement Poster is in Fine condition with: Paper loss and pin holes in all corners. This poster is currently stored flat. It will be rolled, carefully packed and shipped in a cylinder.
Movie Synopsis
Vanishing Point (1971) is a landmark of early 1970s American cinema, blending existential themes, counterculture philosophy, and high-octane automotive action into a film that has become a true cult classic. Directed by Richard C. Sarafian and written by Guillermo Cabrera Infante (under the pseudonym Guillermo Cain), the film captures the restless spirit of its era, questioning authority, freedom, and identity against the backdrop of endless American highways.
The story follows Kowalski (played by Barry Newman), a former Vietnam veteran, ex-police officer, and professional race car driver. Tasked with delivering a white 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T from Denver to San Francisco, Kowalski accepts a reckless bet that he can make the trip in under 15 hours. What begins as a simple delivery quickly escalates into a cross-state manhunt as Kowalski’s refusal to slow down or submit to authority turns him into a symbol of rebellion.
As Kowalski barrels through Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, the pursuit is broadcast over the airwaves by the charismatic blind DJ Super Soul, portrayed memorably by Cleavon Little. Super Soul frames Kowalski not as a criminal, but as a folk hero — a man standing against a system determined to control him. This narrative device elevates the film beyond a standard car chase, giving it a mythic, almost spiritual dimension that resonated deeply with audiences disillusioned by war, politics, and social conformity.
Vanishing Point is renowned for its minimalist dialogue and unconventional storytelling. Much of Kowalski’s backstory is revealed through fragmented flashbacks, offering glimpses into his past as a soldier, a racer, and a man repeatedly failed by institutions meant to provide purpose and order. Barry Newman’s understated performance is central to the film’s power, conveying stoicism, defiance, and quiet despair with remarkable restraint.
The film’s automotive legacy is equally significant. The white Dodge Challenger — now one of the most iconic muscle cars in cinema history — is practically a character in its own right. The production used multiple Challengers during filming, many of which were destroyed during the movie’s famously raw stunt sequences. Unlike later action films, Vanishing Point relied heavily on practical driving and real-world locations, giving the chase scenes a visceral authenticity that still holds up today.
Upon its release, the film received mixed critical reactions but gradually gained a devoted following. Over time, it has been re-evaluated as a defining example of the New Hollywood movement, standing alongside films like Easy Rider as an expression of post-1960s American counterculture. Its influence can be seen in later works by filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, who has cited the film as an inspiration.
This rare movie advertisement poster is a striking piece of cinema history. It is highly sought after by collectors of vintage movie posters, muscle car movie enthusiasts, and fans of cult cinema, it is an essential artefact from one of the most iconic car action movies ever made.
To find out more about Vanishing Point (1971) 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.