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. Printed by Charles & Read Ltd. of London & Harlow. This folded poster has brilliant colours and displays well despite having multiple pinholes in the corners as seen with matchstick size holes at the top and middle centrefold joins plus three closed paper snags across the title which have been repaired with conservation restoration tape to the reverse. There is a small corner tip missing at the bottom left. The poster features the printed signature of the artist.