SOMEWHERE ON LEAVE

Original 1946 British 11 inch x 8 1/2 inch Trade Advertisement from Kinematograph Weekly for the 1943 John E. Blakeley Comedy SOMEWHERE ON LEAVE starring Frank Randle, Harry Korris, Robby Vincent, Dan Young, Toni Lupino, Pat McGrath, Tonie Edgar Bruce, Edna Wood, Vincent Holman, Noel Dainton, Sidney Monckton, John Varley, Clifford Cobb, Elizabeth Wilson, Esme Lewis, Nan Hopkins, Hilda Jones, Ernie Dillon and the Riverside Jitterbugs.

Farce of a wealthy soldier who takes his friends home with him on leave, and conducts a romance with a girl who finds herself of adopted parents and is unhappy.

Cover art by Dudley Pout.

Born into a Kent farming community in 1908, Dudley Pout’s film poster career began with the East Kent Poster Service in Kent, who supplied hand painted film star portraits and foyer displays for local cinemas. Two years later he was offered a job managing the Stoll art studios in Chatham producing posters, foyer displays and press advertising. Joining the Metropolitan Police Reserve during the war he was approached by United Artists’ publicity manager who introduced him to Michael Balcon. Then in off duty hours he designed posters and publicity for The Goose Steps Out, The Foreman Went to France, Went the Day Well?, The Black Sheep of Whitehall and many more. “Before any ideas of drawing were put to paper, I would attend a private viewing of the film with the publicity manager of the company concerned. We would discuss what the best selling point of the film would be to feature on the posters. Correct billing was very important. The star or stars were placed above the title and the supporting cast were set below. Credits varied in size in relation to the importance and popularity of the star and were so much per cent of the title size…”

”Next came the question of how many colours were to be used, two, three or four. Every extra colour raised the cost of printing. After producing what is called a ‘finished rough’ and having it approved, the artwork was then completed. The lettering of titles, stars and credits was all done by hand.”

After the war Pout moved into the publishing world and produced illustrations in the Eagle and Girl.

The Advertisement is in very good condition.