American

Best known for his action packed James Bond posters, American artist Frank McCarthy's dynamic design for John Sturges' spectacular 1963 wartime adventure The Great Escape features king of cool Steve McQueen front and centre, leading co-stars James Garner, Richard Attenborough and their fellow prisoners of war in their legendary escape from a German cap during World War II. McQueen cemented his superstardom as the daredevil Captain Hilts, whose irreverence towards Nazi authority repeatedly lands him in solitary confinement, earning him the nickname 'The Cooler King,' before gunning his motorcycle over a barbed wire fence in the film's most iconic stunt. A fictionalised account of the daring true-life breakout from German POW camp Stalag Luft III, during which 250 men attempted to tunnel their way to freedom, the rousing ensemble adventure has become a beloved fixture of family TV viewing, voted third in a 2006 poll of the films British families would most want to sit down together to watch at Christmas.

Condition

Very Good (B+)

Conservation backed on linen. Backing has smoothed and diminished one vertical and three horizontal machine folds as issued and an addition horizontal fold 2¼in. from upper edge. A few clean stapleholes to margins and a handful through artwork with the most minor colour touching. A smattering of miniscule pinpricks to artwork. Three very faint pinkish splashes to white ground around McQueen's legs. Image and colours otherwise excellent.