Marnie

The 1950s was probably Alfred Hitchcock’s classic era, when he controlled all the aspects of his movies, a true auteur.  He typically combined a loose plot, usually set off by a “Macguffin”, with a slightly ambiguous leading man in a dangerous position not of his making, and lots of female sex appeal from his blonde leading ladies.

The next decade started with a massive hit with Psycho, but not all of his 60s movies were so popular.

Marnie was for most commentators an interesting outing, but one in which Hitchcock over-indulged his prurient side, and there’s plenty of casual misogyny here, and a not altogether sympathetic portrayal from Sean Connery playing against Tippi Hedren..

The advertising was clear – this was a “sex mystery” in the US and about “sex and suspense” in the UK, and that shows in its posters, including this original UK Quad, featuring not only nice images of Connery and Hedren, but also a smaller Hedren in flimsy nightgown, and a dominant close-up of Hitchcock himself.  The appearance of Hitchcock often increases the collectability of original movie art for his movies, and we think that this British poster layout is much more impactful than the US pieces.