AVALANCHE EXPRESS Original 1979 Roadshow Australia Daybill Movie Poster Lee Marvin, Robert Shaw, Linda Evans, Maximilian Schell, Mike Connors, Kristina Nel

Title: Avalanche Express (Lorimar Productions (Ireland) Ltd.)

Directors: Mark Robson (unfortunately died during production) He was replaced by Monte Hellman (uncredited)

Stars: Lee Marvin, Robert Shaw, Linda Evans, Maximilian Schell, Mike Connors, Kristina Nel

Genre: Action Thriller

Printer: M.A.P.S. Litho Pty. Ltd., Australia

Distributor: Roadshow Films Australia

Condition: Fine-VF (see image and grading scale below)

Format: Folded (as issued) unused Australian Daybill 13” x 30”

Film Release Date: 1979

Location: Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia

Total Approximate Shipping Weight: 450 grams (including packaging)

Description & Condition: You are bidding on a folded (as issued) unused Australian daybill movie poster in fine to very fine condition (see the image of the actual poster and our grading scale below). This is not a reproduction or reprint poster, it is a genuine original 1979 Australian theatre release daybill movie poster as printed by M.A.P.S. Litho Pty. Ltd., Australia and distributed in Australia by Roadshow Films. We will combine multiple purchases into one package (if feasible) to save you on postage cost.

All items are sent standard with tracking (registered post, express post, and extra cover is available upon request), and are either rolled in bubble wrap and packed in a very sturdy round end-plugged tube, or folded into their original folds and placed into a protective sleeve and carefully flat packed into a large stiff mailing folder with backing board for extra protection during transit.

Image Information: A picture speaks a thousand words and form an important part of the item description so please take the time to look at all the images carefully. All images of the actual item for sale and are photographed under natural lighting (where possible) and have not been digitally doctored. We do not use stock photos so what you see is what you get.

Movie Synopsis: When a senior Russian official, Gen. Marenkov (Robert Shaw), decides to defect to the west, CIA agent Harry Wargrave (Lee Marvin) is sent to lead the team to get him out. Malenkov reveals that the Russians are trying to develop biological weapons. Wargrave decides that Malenkov should travel across Europe by train, on the "Atlantic Express", in an attempt to try and lure the Russians into attacking the train so that they can discover who the Russian secret agents in Europe are. During the journey they must survive terrorist attack and an avalanche, all planned by Russian spy-catcher Nikolai Bunin (Maximilian Schell). There is a tape that gets decoded and harry hands it over when he boards the jet plane with Elsa Lang (Linda Evans). ( Did you know that star Robert Shaw and Director Mark Robson both died during production.

How Our Posters Are Graded

All images of the posters are of the actual poster for sale so what you see is what you get, we do not use stock photos.

Very Fine – Almost Mint: Unused with no flaws.

Fine:  Generally unused with the original folds and possible signs of minor ageing but no significant flaws.

Very Good:  These have the usual folds, possibly some pinholes, possible very light blue tack stain spots, minor edge or fold wear and/or splits or tears, and unobtrusive stains but no paper loss.

Good: Has possible staining, pinholes, minor paper lifts in corners, small tears (possibly taped on reverse) slight fold separations, minor paper loss, and possible blue tack stain spots, and edge wear but still good enough to frame.

Fair: These posters will need some restoration and are usually only sold on this site if they are rare and hard to find. There will be a combination of tears, paper loss, staining, pinholes and blue tack stains but because of the rarity of the poster, worth linen backing.

Combined Postage Information: We will combine any auction or fixed price posters to save you on postage. If you are buying multiple posters please let us know and then wait until we adjust the invoice before making payment.

All posters are either rolled and shipped in a cylinder or folded into their original folds and carefully flat packed into a protective sleeve and large stiff mailing folder ($2.49 each) with backing board for extra protection during transit.

For those concerned about shipping cost please note: The shipping pricing is out of my hands and Australia Post has recently increased their prices. We only charge $2 extra and that is because we pack the posters into a plastic sleeve and then into a stiff envelope ($2.49 each from Officeworks) with backing card (not between a couple of pieces of crappy cardboard or rolling folded posters (it affects the folds) so we are actually losing on postage.

About Australian Daybill Movie Posters The Australian daybill movie poster is the Australian equivalent to the American insert. The sizes vary, depending on the era, from 13" x 30" from the 40s to the mid 60s to 13" x 26" 13” x 27”, 13” x 28”and even 11” x 27” from the 80s. Some of the more modern daybill, particularly after 2000  are produced in various sizes.

The usual process for producing Australian daybill posters was the hand litho process, which produced posters with a rich texture and subtle toning.

The artists would generally use US poster art or press book images for their inspiration and they would either trace or use their own imagination or a combination of both to come up with a design for the poster.

This artistic licence led to some beautiful posters unique to Australia, which often featured superior artwork with rich deep colour.

 Virtually all vintage daybills are now hard to obtain and as such, are becoming increasingly popular due to their convenient size and that a very low number of each produced. They are a very good investment in entertainment history.

It is important to note that daybills for the original release of a film often included a two-colour (duotone) or black and white version. In many cases these are mistakenly referred to as copies or later reissues but they were generally released at the same time as the full colour versions were issued and as such, are also originals.

Some posters like those produced by RKO Pictures and Brown Prior Anderson Pty. Ltd., Victoria bleed the printing process right to the edge of posters so there was no white border. Many of these posters appear to have been trimmed but are not.

Certain printing firms seem to predominate during certain periods, such as W.E. Smith and Robert Burton of Sydney during the 1940s and 1950s. Several other printers like RKO Pictures, F. Cunninghame & Co. Pty. Ltd. (litho) Sydney, Royelltone Prints Pty. Ltd., Victory Publications Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, W & B Litho, Sydney and Simmons Ltd. printed older posters but W.E. Smith and Robert Burton produced most.

During the 70s M.A.P.S started producing movie posters and there is an overlap where both Robert Burton and M.A.P.S printed some of the same original posters and both are originals.

Other printers like Brown Prior Anderson in Burwood, Victoria, Australia, also printed some of the B grade and R rated Australian posters, and some of the film distributors like Roadshow Australia produced and distributed their own posters.

Parcel Post with Signature: We highly recommend you use this option as it also offers priority handling and tracking where available, and a signature on delivery. Extra cover is available for loss or damage in transit for more valuable and delicate items. If you choose not to opt for parcel post and/or extra cover, we will not be responsible for items damaged or lost in transit.

Domestic Extra Cover: Extra Cover against loss or damage in transit is available on registered articles only and is calculated at $1.50 per $100 value or part thereof, in excess of $100 and up to a maximum of $5000. This option is highly recommended for items valued over $100.

My eBay Store: Don't forget to checkout my eBay store for other similar items, which may not be accessible through the normal eBay search, by clicking on the little “red door” on the right-hand side of this listing under “seller info”.

Worldwide Shipping Costs: International shipping will vary depending on your location in the world so please ask for a quote before placing your bid to avoid disappointment at check-out time. The zones are generally divided up into United States and Canada, Europe, and Asia Pacific and there is a maximum weight of 20 kg.

We will combine items to save you on postage so please notify us if you are bidding on more than one item and we will combine all you items onto the one invoice.

Registered Post International (signature required at your end) is available to most International destinations for about $6 extra. We highly recommend you use this option as it also offers priority handling, basic tracking where available, and a signature on delivery.

International Extra Cover ($9.60 for 1st $100 and $2.50 per $100 thereafter to a maximum of $5000) is also available to most International destinations. We will not be responsible for items lost or damaged in transit if this option is not taken.

Happy Bidding!