Prisoner Of The Cannibal God

Artist: Sam Peffer
Format: UK Quad (30"x 40")
Condition: Excellent
Year: 1978

Description

As poster artists stand, Sam Peffer must be one of the more underrated with his artwork for “Prisoner of the Cannibal God” being one of the best examples of his immense talent. Sim Branaghan explains in his essential book “British Film Posters” (2006) how Peffer, along with Tom Chantrell, dominated the exploitation side of film publicity in the UK during the 1970s. Illustrating for these films which often contained controversial subject matter alongside a plethora of violence and sex, allowed Peffer the opportunity to really experiment and create vivid and detailed designs for the film’s being promoted.

This is certainly the case with Peffer's artwork for “Prisoner of the Cannibal God”, featuring Ursula Andress in a bronzed and sexualised pose against the intimidating and foreboding backdrop of the ‘cannibals’. Also included below are the original artwork roughs for the poster (images courtesy of www.moviepostermem.com) which interestingly display the progression of the design. Notably, the two roughs market the film through its US title “The Mountain of the Cannibal God”. Also worth noting is the development of the colour scheme from lighter tones of blues and brighter shades of yellow, to the final product which was much darker and arguably more eerie. Peffer was paid a total of just £100 for this commission, including his work on the roughs and the finished artwork.

“Prisoner of the Cannibal God” was Italian made & unsurprisingly on release received an "X" certificate. Subsequently the film came to be considered as a “Video Nasty” in the UK & it's video release was delayed until 2001 (only being permitted after several minutes of cuts). Star Ursula Andress had made her mark on the film world with her iconic (yet dubbed) role in the first Bond film, “Dr No” in 1962 and followed this with high-profile starring roles alongside the likes of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Peter Sellers. In the 1970s she began appearing in more European productions, predominantly Italian. No doubt her sex appeal could still sell a film as evidenced through the striking artwork of her on display here in this attention-grabbing and unnerving poster.

 

This poster has been linen-backed.