Venus of the South Seas (Lee-Bradford, 1924). Fine/Very Fine on Linen. One Sheet (26.75" X 40").. ...

Description

Venus of the South Seas (Lee-Bradford, 1924). Fine/Very Fine on Linen. One Sheet (26.75" X 40").
Before there was Esther Williams, there was Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman. Born with deformed legs, she overcame her disability through swimming, even attempting to swim the English Channel on three occasions, and though she failed, the notoriety made her an international star. Kellerman parlayed her fame into a career as an actress, always in "swimming" movies from the 1900s to the 1920s. Nicknamed "the Diving Venus," she was arrested in Boston in 1907 for wearing a, then-scandalous, one-piece bathing suit. She continued her controversy with nude appearance in A Daughter of the Gods, believed to be the first nude scene in a major movie. In her final screen role, the popular swimming sensation plays a young woman trying to avoid a greedy ship captain who schemes to take her pearl business away from her. This was notably one of the last films with footage in the Prizma Color process, an early bi-pack color system that would pave the way for future color processes such as Multicolor and Cinecolor. Even more remarkable, the last reel of four was not only shot in color, but was also filmed underwater with a special camera. A rare beauty, the poster shows a few signs of chips and tears, pinholes, and slight fold and crossfold separation. The borders have been airbrushed and light touchups have been applied to the folds. Elegantly restored, this gorgeous poster featuring an image of Kellerman in her signature swimsuit would be a prized addition to any collection.


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