Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush
Artist: Vic Fair
Format: UK Quad (30"x 40")
Condition: Excellent
Year: 1968
DescriptionReleased when the ‘flower power’ movement was gaining momentum in the swinging 60’s, Clive Donner’s “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” was typical of much of the British cinema output from the period. With flashy camerawork, trippy dream-sequences, playful nudity and a rocking score by The Spencer Davis Group and Traffic, it truly is a product of its time.
The plot centres on a teenager on a quest to lose his virginity in swinging sixties new town, Stevenage. It is fairly simplistic fare and as expected certain aspects have indeed dated, namely the ‘far-out’ fantasy sequences. Regardless, the film has proven to be quite endearing with the passage of time and now supports a passionate cult following. An optimistic romp and exploration of youth, it also offers wonderful insight into the fashions, music, architecture and social issues of the period.
The UK Quad similarly carries a timeless appeal whilst still maintaining its swinging sixties vibe. Designed by Vic Fair, the poster is arguably one of his finest creations and is a wonderful display of his innovative creativity. The surreal qualities of the film are fully evident in Fair’s colourful, whimsical and fun-loving creation. Especially noteworthy is the inventive use of silver foil for the ‘close-up’ figure, the idea being that you see a slightly blurred reflection of yourself.
Pictured below are two rough designs by Fair for the Quad poster. Shown courtesy of www.moviepostermem.com, these designs offer a great insight into the working mind of one of the great poster designers of the latter half of the 20th century. The silver foil appears to have been a recurring thought throughout the process. Whilst one rough is near-enough the exact design that was featured on the Quad, the other conveys an even more oneiric layout, almost Pythonesque. The V&A museum now have one of these Vic Fair prototype artworks in their collection.