Tom William Chantrell (1916-2001)
Star Wars
1977, US one sheet, style C, uncut printer's proof
40⁷⁄₈ x 28³⁄₈ in. (103.5 x 72 cm.)
unfolded, backed on linen

A rare original uncut printer's proof of the 'style C' US one sheet film poster for the first release of George Lucas' 1977 space opera Star Wars.

When the studio realised how successful the first instalment of George Lucas' original, genre-defining, sci-fi trilogy was going to be, they commissioned prolific British poster artist Tom William Chantrell to create this bold, action-packed design for the British campaign, replacing the Hildebrandt Brothers’ advance quad (see lot 46) within a couple of weeks of the December 1977 UK release. Considered the best poster artwork created for the film, Chantrell's design was repurposed for the style C US one sheet poster, becoming synonymous with the franchise. Chantrell often used his family as models for his poster artwork; for this design, his wife posed as Princess Leia in their garden with a plastic sword.

Before a poster design was printed in large quantities for distribution to theatres, the printer would print a limited number of test ‘proofs’, which would be shown to studio and marketing executives for final approval. As seen on this example, the colour chart would often be left uncut along the edge of the poster, which adds an extra inch to the width of the poster. Printer’s proofs are highly desirable to collectors for their rarity and authenticity, as there are no known fakes or reproductions.