Movie Pressbook: Curse of the Undead (1959)
Pressbooks (Horror, Sci Fi, Fantasy)
Movie Herald: Battle for the Planet of the Apes
This 11" x 17" The Battle for the Planet of the Apes tabloid newspaper herald, which theaters would hand out to promote the movie. Nicely done.
Movie Pressbook: The Viking Queen (1967)
While I'm not sure how much historical Viking and Iceni research actually wound up in this Hammer production, you certainly can't beat those chariots of death and men roasting in cages. Not everthing's about Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, right? I mean, if you can have the Satanic rites of Dracula, then I don't see much harm with the Iceni practicing savage ones in the movie.
This 10" x 15" Warner-Pathe pressbook follows the same format as their Moon Zero Two pressbook, but this one has only 8 pages (how many ice-cream and luggage tie-ins can you do with Vikings? and forget about the kiddies after you go about roasting men and driving chariots of death).
Speaking of those deadly chariots, I suspect there's a bit of phallic print-play with the cover illustration going on. Of course, you can read anything you like into those Viking horns. They're so, well, do I really need to say it? As for the movie, all I can say is, it's in my Top 10 list for worst-casting ever. Don Murray? As a Viking?
Movie Pressbook: Moon Zero Two (1969) Part 2
In Part 2 of our coverage on the Moon Zero Two pressbook, the last 7 pages include more publicity and promotion ideas including Revell model kits, color-in drawings for newspapers, luggage for that moon trip (yes, product placement was done in the 1960s, too!), ice cream tie-ins (called tie-ups, here; those Brits are so into bondage), and finally, as if it were an afterthought, the poster blocks page. The marketing for this movie was extensive, judging by this pressbook. Very impressive, really. (Note: the pages do not appear in the order printed.)
Movie Pressbook: Moon Zero Two (1969) Part 1
This 12 page pressbook from Warner-Pathe Distributors, Ltd. covers all the bases: kiddie audiences, it’s in here; astronaut pens, and moon-buggy rentals, it’s in here; gogo-booted females baring skin for the guys, it’s in here; future fashions that remind you of Gerry Anderson, it’s in here, too. All of this courtesy of Hammer Studios. I have to split this into two posts because it’s so overwhelming. And man, I’d take on James Bond for that fold display artwork. Wouldn’t you?
See Part Two of the Moon Zero Two pressbook.
Double Bill Pressbook:
Blood Suckers and Blood Thirst
The "exploitation aid"mentioned in this bi-folded, one sheet pressbook is a keeper; the movies, not so much.
Double Bill Pressbook:
The Brain That Wouldn’t Die
and Invasion of the Star Creatures
I left out a few pages of poster admats. These American International pressbooks usually run around 11" x 14," and have pull-out pages to highlight the various sized posters for each movie. The Brain That Wouldn't Die was another B-movie staple seen on television during the 1960s and 1970s horror hosted and hostless shows.
Movie Pressbook: Man Beast (1956)
The "SEE:" promotional gimmick is in high swing on this movie.They missed the SEE: A poorly dressed barefoot woman with an open blouse daring to take on the icy snow . Maybe she thought the Man Beast was a wool blanket.
Double Bill Pressbook:
The Brain From Planet Arous
and Teenage Monster
The Howco International Campaign Kits are wonderful examples of high class print marketing for low class movies (hey, I still love them). These folder-styled pressbooks, around 11" x 17" in format, are colorful and simple, but the paper quality is high and the impression of the overall presentation is impeccable, especially when you consider they were targeted to drive-in venues. The main attraction's marketing sheets–poster admats and publicity information–were placed in the left side pocket, and the second attraction's sheets were situated on the right.
(And…The Brain From Planet Arous is one of my guilty pleasures, especially because of John Agar. For me he epitomized the 1950s and 1960s B-move wave of science-horror.)
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Double Bill Pressbook:
The Brain From Planet Arous
and Teenage MonsterRead More »