Collection Spotlight: “Murder in the Clouds” One-Sheet

 

Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 7

(Heritage Auctions)

(Heritage Auctions)

This 1934 Murder in the Clouds poster has two distinctions in my collection; it’s the earliest one-sheet I own from an Ann Dvorak film, and it’s the most I ever paid for anything. I won it on an online auction back in 2007 for a whooping $450, and then spent another $100 or so getting it framed with UV filtered plexi and all that jazz. Mind you, while this is the most I have shelled out for an Ann item, I have tried to pay more. I once bid $600 on a lobby card from The Crowd Roars with Ann and James Cagney on it. Sadly (or maybe fortunately), I was not parted with my cash for that piece.

By 1934, Warner Bros. seldom featured Ann on their one-sheets, so the image on the Murder in the Clouds poster is quite extraordinary. I guess that’s why I paid such a crazy amount for it while battling against a fervent Lyle Talbot or aviation fan to get it in my clutches. At this point, the poster also represents a time in my life when I could drop nearly 500 bucks on a piece of movie memorabilia. Now, six years, a child, and a mortgage later, I would be harboring some serious guilt for spending that much. Yes, those carefree days of blowing most of my disposable income on Ann Dvorak may be over, but at least I own some super cool posters!

 

7 Comments

  1. artman2112 January 8, 2013

    wow nice poster! that Lyle Talbot sure shows up in a LOT of films!

  2. admin January 8, 2013

    He really does! A friend of mine proofread the Dvorak manuscript, and when she cam across Talbot’s name for the 5th or 6th film, she jokingly made a note that said, “This guy AGAIN?”

  3. artman2112 January 8, 2013

    well i watched Heat lightning the other night after being inspired by your post, then last week i saw Three on a match, the week before i caught a bit of the Purchase Price, as well as all of 42nd street, Ladies They Talk About and The Case of the Lucky Legs and about a month ago i watched Glen or Glenda for the first time…hes in ALL of them haha!

  4. admin January 8, 2013

    Yeah, good ol’ Lyle sure got around! One of these days, I need to watch Glen or Glenda.

  5. artman2112 January 9, 2013

    it is VERY bad! not even in a good way really. i found it dull. but its kind of a must see regardless O_o

    i assume you’re aware his daughter recently wrote a book about him? i def wanna pick that one up!

  6. admin January 9, 2013

    I feel like as a film fan, it’s one of those movies I should at least see a few minutes of. I sat through Plan 9 once, and I am not sure I could ever do it again.

    Margaret Talbot’s book is excellent. It’s more a look at popular entertainment with her dad’s story woven in, than a straight biography, but I highly recommend it. Plus, she’s a big fan of Ann’s, AND she gave me a portrait of Ann & Lyle on the set of College Coach from his personal collection. So, I am a big fan of both Talbots!

  7. artman2112 January 9, 2013

    haha i knew you were aware of the Talbot book! the review i read of it on a friends blog describes it just as you did. that was very nice of her to pass that picture along to you!

    plan 9 is a masterwork compared to glen or glenda but its certainly a curiosity!

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