A delightful French Moyenne poster illustrated by Belgian cartoonist Hergé for the second live-action feature film to be based on his beloved comic book series 'The Adventures of Tintin', which followed an adventurous young Belgian reporter and his faithful dog Snowy. Capitalising on the success of 'Tintin and the Golden Fleece' (Tintin et le mystère de la Toison d'Or) in 1961, 'Tintin and the Blue Oranges' (Tintin et les oranges bleues) followed in 1964, with Jean-Pierre Talbot reprising his role as the titular Tintin. An original story written by André Barret based on the Hergé characters, the plot saw Tintin, Snowy and Professor Calculus travel to Spain to investigate the theft of a mysterious blue orange - the solution to world hunger.

Hergé's dynamic poster design for the French release pictured the determined Tintin sprinting from a toreador's bull, trailed in a zig-zag formation by Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, a flamenco dancer, opera diva Bianca Castafiore, and incompetent detectives Thomson and Thompson bringing up the rear. Tintin's thought bubble reveals that his mind is on the mission - the blue orange, while Snowy is dreaming only of a juicy bone.

Provenance

Excellent (A-)

Archivally backed on linen with no restoration. Backing has smoothed one vertical and one horizontal machine fold and diminished the most minor splits to folds at edges. Some toning to paper and darkening to edges, typical of the acidic French film paper of this period. Image and colours excellent.