Australian movie poster for the Warner Brothers epic based on the 1952 historical novel The Silver Chalice, by Thomas B. Costain. The story engages Biblical characters, Luke, Peter, Joseph of Arimathea, Simon Magus and his companion Helena, and the apostle Peter, with a (fictional) young craftsman named Basil (Paul Newman) who is unjustly sold into slavery. He is rescued by Joseph of Arimathea (Walter Hampden) and commissioned to carve a silver casing for the cup used by Jesus during the Last Supper. Warner Studios hoped that this epic would be as successful as The Robe, but it was a theater flop, with Newman later disclaimed his debut screen performance.
Indications of Australian provenience of this poster include the Sydney printing company, along with the triangular “For General Admission” logo on the right side of the graphic. In the 1950s, Australia had three categories of film: For General Admission, Not Suitable for Children, and Suitable only for Adults.
- Framed: 33 x 16 in
- Subject Matter: religious
- Created: 1955
- Collections: Biblical Movie Posters