The Long Good Friday

Artist: Other
Format: UK Quad (30"x 40")
Condition: Excellent
Year: 1980

Description

“The Long Good Friday” is considered one of the quintessential British films of the 1980s as well as one of the finest in the gangster genre. It provided star-making roles for Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren as well as offering a brief part for future "James Bond", Pierce Brosnan. Given the near universal acclaim that it continues to receive, it is often easy to forget that it was almost never released at all.

 

Though conceived as a full length feature film, financial problems meant that "The Long Good Friday" stuttered towards a television release only. Scheduled to be televised on 24 March 1981 with heavy cuts, original producer Barry Hanson attempted to buy back the rights as he felt the cuts would destroy the film. Ultimately ex-Beatle George Harrison's Hamdmade Films stepped in and provided backing for the full cinematic release the film so richly deserved.

The UK Quad reflects the many qualities of the film; the sense of impending doom, its dark and bleak tone and the mysterious ‘whodunnit’ plotline. It is a poster that perfectly embodies the “less is more” mantra and, like the film itself, has enjoyed lasting popularity. Likewise, the US 1-Sheet (see below courtesy of emovieposter.com) incorporates this simple approach in its design, featuring hazy yet disturbing "interrogation" imagery beneath a plethora of positive citical reviews.

In complete contrast to the UK Quad & US 1-Sheet poster designs were the posters produced for the UK 1-Sheet poster. Two separate designs were created, one by Rob Fenton, the other by Thomas Chantrell (see www.chantrellposter.com for more info). Both designs eschewed the more sombre depictions instead dramatising themes of violence & action. The Chantrell poster (shown courtesy of christies.com) is of particular quality. Neither UK 1-Sheet was printed in any great number & both are scarce, the Chantrell version particularly so.