Vintage original 14 x 18.5 in. Belgian poster from the classic 1940's drama, JOHNNY BELINDA, released in 1948 by Warner Bros. and directed by Jean Negulesco. In post-war Cape Breton, a doctor's (Lew Ayres) efforts
to tutor a deaf/mute woman (Jane Wyman) are undermined when she is raped and the resulting
pregnancy causes scandal to swirl.
The design features beautiful artwork depicting a large close shot of Belinda McDonald (Jane Wyman) in a serene pose with a white shawl wrapped around her head and shoulders along with a second image of her being menaced by a man. As Miss Wyman won the Academy Award for her role before the film was released in Belgium, the poster gives a nod to her Oscar win with an image of the famous gold statuette near her name. Printed for the film's original theatrical release in Belgium, this vintage original poster is unrestored and folded as originally issue. It is in fine+ condition with a horizontal and vertical fold through the center with an additional two light horizontal folds above the center fold; a light trim at the top (as the poster would measure 22 in. in height); and random signs of wear along the edges. The original import tax stamps are affixed on the bottom right corner. The beautiful color tints are rich and vibrant without any signs of fading.
Johnny Belinda became only the second film to be nominated for all the
top 6 Academy Awards (as of then): Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best
Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Director. Jane Wyman's Oscar acceptance speech is
reportedly the shortest on record for Best Actress: "I won this award by
keeping my mouth shut and I think I'll do it again."
Widely considered to be the first Hollywood film to openly tackle the subject
of rape. Jane Wyman became the first person, actor
or actress since the silent era to win an Oscar without uttering a word, after
sound was created, just before The
Jazz Singer (1927) was filmed & released, 21 years earlier, in 1927. Stephen McNally, who played the hideous "Locky
McCormick" character role, in the theatrical film, also played the saintly
doctor in the Broadway production, just to prove he could play a friendly or a
diabolical (evil) character role. With 12
nominations, the most nominated film of its year. Max Steiner received an
Oscar nomination for his score, one of 10 that he provided for movies in 1948.
Other notable films from that banner year that benefited from his input
included two for John Huston, The
Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) and Key Largo (1948).