Behind These Walls Poster

Rare UK Quad cinema poster (29"x 39 1/4") for the French wartime drama "Behind These Walls" (1946) aka "Jericho" with poster design & illustration by the great S. John Woods.

The film focused on a disparate group of French hostages due to be executed by the Nazis as a reprisal for the activities of the French Resistance (the film was based on the true story of an RAF attack on a jail in Amiens to free prisoners in similar circumstances). The cast were mostly unknown to British audiences with the possible exception of Pierre Brasseur who is name-checked on the poster. The film is also advertised as an "Anglo-French" production though it appears there was little British involvement (perhaps an attempt to make it more appealing to the domestic audience?).

The poster has been printed on extremely thin paper stock (presumably a reflection of the immediate post-war shortages of paper). S. John Woods was the advertising guru at Ealing Studios (1943-59) at this time so although not an Ealing production per se perhaps there was some other connection to Ealing?

Poster in rare unfolded condition. It appears to have been very slightly trimmed on the upper rim. There are several small conservation tape repairs to the reverse including a 2 1/2" tear to the left rim. However, we have never seen another example of this poster before. Given both the niche nature of the film (implying a limited release) & the nature of the poster paper (extremely fragile) it is quite likely that this is one of the very few (if not the only) example that has survived. A rare British film poster & an early example of S. John Woods work too.

Price: £295.00

Film Category: War / Drama
Director: Henri Calef
Actor / Actresses: Pierre Brasseur, Nadine Alary, Roland Armontel
Poster Type: UK Quad (30" x 40", 76cm x 102cm)
Poster Artist: Woods Sydney John
Condition: Good
Year: 1946
Reference: 61647

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