San Demetrio London Poster

An unusual UK poster (19"x 28 1/2") related to the WWII propaganda film "San Demetrio London" (1943) with poster design by the great Sydney John Woods.

The film was a tale of a merchant navy ship abadoned in the Atlantic with a cargo of fuel & was made by Ealing Studios & produced by Michael Balcon. SJ Woods joined Ealing in 1943 & enjoyed a long & successful career as head of their advertising department till 1959. Woods designed & illustrated posters & also commisioned an array of other skilled graphic designers to handle Ealing's output. It is likely that this poster was one of Woods first for Ealing (the Quad poster for the film was illustrated by Morris Kestelman).

The text on the poster & lower exhortation "Save Fuel For Battle" suggests that this poster was some kind of Public Service/War Effort initiative. This is supported by the fact that The Imperial War Museum has the same "Save Fuel.." poster in its collection. Such posters were used to maintain morale & promote behaviours that supported the war effort.

Poster unfolded with various small edge nicks (these stabilised with conservation tape to reverse) crease upper right & a tiny chip missing from upper left rim. Poster overall in good condition. A rare British poster with military, naval & cinematic interest combined.

Price: £225.00

Film Category: War / Nautical
Director: Charles Frend
Actor / Actresses: Walter Fitzgerald, Robert Beatty, Mervyn Johns
Poster Type: Other formats
Poster Artist: Woods Sydney John
Condition: Good
Year: 1943
Reference: 61579

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