Rocket To The Moon

Artist: Thomas William Chantrell
Format: UK Quad (30"x 40")
Condition: Excellent
Year: 1967

Description

Telling a story about a planned flight to the moon, the British science-fiction comedy "Rocket to the Moon” was a very loose adaptation of French novelist Jules Verne’s “From the Earth to the Moon”. Many previous Verne adaptations had proved themselves successful at both the box office as well as among critics ie, 1954’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, 1956’s “Around the World in 80 Days” (which won the Academy Award for Best Picture) and 1959’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Unlike these, however, “Rocket to the Moon” was less fortunate and bombed at the US box office first under the title “Those Fantastic Flying Fools” and then again when it was cut down by almost 25 minutes and re-released as “Blast Off” (image courtesy of www.moviepostermem.com). Featuring an ensemble cast of actors at their peaks in the 1960s including Academy Award winner Burl Ives and “Goldfinger” villain Gert Fröbe, "Rocket To The Moon" is a romp that, despite its Victorian setting, is most certainly unique to the swinging 60s.

This 1960s attribute is certainly identifiable in the colourful UK Quad poster for the film, by Chantrell. Although offering a relatively simple design, it reflects the film’s fun and laid-back style well with Chantrell incorporating his trademark use of dayglo red and detailed caricature designs of the lead stars in typically arresting fashion. For a plethora of information about Chantrell, please refer to www.chantrellposter.com & Sim Branaghan's book "British Film Posters" (2006).

The fantastical nature of much of Verne’s work and their subsequent cinematic adaptations meant that poster designers really had the chance to experiment. One of the best and most recognisable of such poster illustrations was that by Brian Bysouth for the 1976 UK re-release of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (image cortesy of www.moviepostermem.com). The exciting and striking artwork covers every inch of the poster and portrays the nautical action/adventure style of the film well. Its busy and atmospheric qualities contrast with Chantrell’s more restrained artwork for “Rocket to the Moon” showing a different and no-less appealing approach to poster design.

 

The "Rocket To The Moon" poster exhibited here has been linen-backed.