Reservoir Dogs

Artist: Graham Humphreys
Format: UK Quad (30"x 40")
Condition: Excellent
Year: 1992

Description

This simple, modern, photographic poster display announced the arrival of Quentin Tarantino on the scene. Tarantino not only directed "Reservoir Dogs" but co-wrote & co-starred in the film too (as "Mr. Brown"). The film caused an undoubted stir, the graphic depiction of violence causing some controversy. The quick-fire dialogue, plot line & carefully managed tension, however, marked out Tarantino as a film-maker of some distinction (his subsequent career has more than justified the critical acclaim which greeted this debut film).

 

Though simple in design, the poster does it's job perfectly well. The photo of the dark-suited bank robbers serves to introduce the main characters & immediately pictures them as a ready-made gang. The particular genius of this poster, however, is the blood splatter. Against the white background this provides a stark contrast & anticipates the elements of danger, mayhem & violence that characterise the film. The Creative Partnership were responsible for the design of "Reservoir Dogs" but the all-important blood splatter was provided by the artist Graham Humphrey's (other key poster illustrations including "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "The Evil Dead" & "Dusk Till Dawn"). Original artwork mock-ups for "Reservoir Dogs" were sold on the Channel Four TV Show "Four Rooms" in 2012 (episode 3) fetching £3,850. For the purpose of comparison we also show the corresponding design for the US 1-Sheet poster for the film (image courtesy of emovieposter.com)

 

The poster shown here is an original double-sided version. Modern posters are produced with a negative image to the reverse as they are designed for display in light boxes, the backward projection creating a much sharper image. A few independent low circulation films are still produced single-sided but as a general rule collectors need to target double-sided modern posters to ensure authenticity.