One Sheet (27" x 41"); Style A ;
Fine Folded
RKO, R-1951

This beautiful "Style A" one sheet poster was issued for the 1951 theatrical re-release of this beloved film, marking only its second reissue. The poster is folded and has a tear extending from Dopey's right eyebrow to the left edge, which has been stabilized with a small piece of brown paper tape on the back of the border. There are also creases above the tear, some fold wear with crimping, and light edge wear that includes small creases and tiny nicks. Additionally, a small dust shadow can be seen in the lower border, along with some light bleed-through from the machine stamp on the back. Despite these imperfections, the poster features a stunning array of rich, vibrant colors that beautifully reflect the joy of the image and the film itself.

It was called "Disney's Folly" by virtually all that heard about it, a project so unlikely and audacious that few believed it could be pulled off, as no one imagined an audience would embrace a feature-length cel-animated cartoon. Indeed, Walt sank everything he had into its production, even mortgaging his home to raise the needed capital. Both his wife, Lillian, and his brother, Roy, tried to talk him out of the project, but Walt remained undeterred. Originally estimated to cost $250,000 (ten times the budget of the typical "Silly Symphonies" short), the film had an initial budget of $150,000 and eventually ran to nearly $1.5 million, an unheard-of sum for any feature film at the time. The result? One of the greatest achievements in film history, both a critical and commercial success, that would quickly become the most successful sound film of all time (although it would be replaced in that position by 1939's Gone with the Wind). It also laid the foundation for the Disney empire, as the profits from this film allowed Disney to build a new studio on 51 acres of land in Burbank, CA.