Never Say Never Again

Artist: Other
Format: UK Quad (30"x 40")
Condition: Excellent
Year: 1984

Description

Having not been produced by Eon Productions like the majority of Bond films, argument often arises over whether 1983’s “Never Say Never Again” belongs within the James Bond film canon. Based on Ian Fleming’s “Thunderball” novel, original Bond actor Sean Connery reprised his now-legendary role. Despite this, the film’s production was long and sometimes arduous, involving lawsuits as well as an attempt to block the film from release by Fleming’s estate.

What cannot be disputed is the high level of talent involved in the film. Alongside Connery, on screen as the villains were future Academy Award nominees Max von Sydow and Klaus Maria Brandauer and ‘Bond girl’ Kim Basinger debuted in her first major role. The film was director Irvin Kershner’s first since the phenomenally successful “The Empire Strikes Back” whilst many of the crew members from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” were also appointed.

Connery’s contract allowed him cast, director and script approval and he was directly responsible for much of the casting. Brandauer, Sydow and Basinger were all hired on suggestions made by Connery. His wife meanwhile was credited with coining the film’s title, playing on a vow her husband had made after filming “Diamonds are Forever” that he would ‘never’ play Bond again.

The UK Advance Quad here is simple and straightforward in design. The big selling point is clearly Connery, pictured in a classic ‘Bond-pose’ with his name appearing in larger font than the film’s title. The use of the ‘007’ symbols in the background cleverly reflect what was done in the film as the iconic gun-barrel opening sequence couldn’t be used for legal reasons and instead the screen was filled with countless ‘007’ symbols.

Whilst the Advance Quad works well as a teaser, announcing Connery’s triumphant return to the role he helped to make famous, the general release Quad, shown below courtesy of www.moviepostermem.com, offers a more action-packed and explosive design. The central image of Connery was painted by Renato Casaro, the rest of the artwork executed by French poster artist Michel Landi.