Above Us the Waves

This film poster is historically significant as the first artwork from an Italian artist to be used on a British film poster. Eric Pulford of Downtons travelled to Rank Overseas distribution office in Rome following instructions to enlist the best Italian artists to produce publicity material for Rank, initially to be used mainly in Italy. Nicola Simbari's painting for "Above Us the Waves" was from a design by Eric Pulford the film being released in Britain in April 1955. Pictured is the German battleship "Tirpitz". The style of the poster marks the new freedom that Italian artists brought to the industry with their refusal to use mechanical painting aids favouring painting direct onto board. This film poster was printed by W. E. Berry Ltd. of Bradford which you can see very faintly at the bottom right and we have also seen evidence of printing by Charles & Read Ltd. of London & Harlow featuring the printed signature of the artist in the top right.