Spies (MGM - UFA, 1928). Fine/Very Fine on Linen. Rotogravure One Sheet (28.25" X 42.5"). Crossing the block for ...

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Spies (MGM - UFA, 1928). Fine/Very Fine on Linen. Rotogravure One Sheet (28.25" X 42.5").
Crossing the block for only the second time in 25 years at Heritage Auctions is this striking rotogravure one sheet of Fritz Lang's masterful follow up to the epic Metropolis. Though the director would later refer to it as "a small film with a lot of action," Spies laid the groundwork for several tropes that later films would draw from, such as James Bond's mastermind villains and Hitchcock's famous "MacGuffins." Not just a master of German Neo-Expressionism, Lang was once a poster designer himself, and it is said that Lang held more control over his movies' ad campaigns than most other UFA directors (going so far as to tear up any illustrations that offended his artistic vision). The posters for this film are almost non-existent with only one other copy of this particular poster ever surfacing. This is one of the rare "Rotogravure" style posters that M-G-M used to promote their larger productions in the 1920s and 30s. 1 inch of the blank border has been replaced (not affecting the design whatsoever). There has been touchup to the horizontal crease across top of image, fold wear with spot paper loss, a tear at the lower fold junction, and a clean 10 inch tear running from the upper fold into Lang's credit. Posters don't get any rarer than this, and silent cinema collectors would be remiss to let this chance pass them by. Property from a Distinguished Collection.


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Estimate: $3,000 - $6,000.

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