This lot will be auctioned on Friday, March 7th. The auction will begin at 9:30am PST and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close as part of the Day 2 Online auction on Saturday, March 8th.

French Grande (46" x 63"); Full-Bleed, Style A
Very Fine- on Linen; Artwork by Roland Coudon
RKO, 1933

Widely considered one of the best images from this iconic 1930s stop-motion horror film, this is the spectacular full-bleed French Grande designed by artist Roland Coudon. It depicts the film's key scene of the gigantic Kong at the huge open gates that protect the natives of Skull Island as their "offering" of Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) awaits her fate while tied to a stone altar. This example was folded and professionally linen-backed with restoration to address fold wear with sporadic small chips and tears, sporadic edge tears of varying sizes, a chip on the lower left corner, and to certain of the letters within the printer's credit in the lower right corner. There is an additional light horizontal fold just above the bottom horizontal fold which has sporadic touch-up and there are a few small areas of touch-up in the black field. This poster displays magnificently with fresh, bright colors that contrast beautifully against the jet-black background.

A film of great importance in cinema history, RKO Studio knew they had a hit when Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack completed this legendary fantasy filled with dinosaurs and adventure. By creating a tragic version of the "Beauty and the Beast" story, they captivated audiences for generations through innovative techniques and stunning effects. Central to this success was stop-motion animator Willis O'Brien, whose work on projects like The Lost World caught the attention of Cooper and Schoedsack. O'Brien's skilled animation of Kong and the dinosaurs of Skull Island brought the film to life, allowing audiences to suspend their disbelief and establishing it as a true classic.

Estimate: $20,000 - 40,000