Gallery Showcases Collectible Film Posters

Movie posters are ads. They have the same goal today as they did when they were first introduced in the early 20th century - to persuade you to pay money to see a movie. But that doesn't mean they don't have artistic merit or historical value.

Just ask Paradise Valley resident Sherry Goldberg, who with her lawyer husband, Mark, co-owns Femme Fatales & Fantasies, a gallery in downtown Scottsdale's Main Street featuring approximately 200 vintage movie posters.

"Part of the reason for this gallery is to thank those who have worked in movies for their contributions and providing escapism," says Goldberg.

The posters on display center on the golden age of cinema - the 1930s to the late 1950s. They include impressive items like a large "six-sheet" (81-by-81-inch) poster from 1938's "The Adventures of Robin Hood" starring Errol Flynn; a poster from the original release of 1961's "Breakfast at Tiffany's"; and whole sections dedicated to film icons like Marilyn Monroe and Goldberg's childhood favorite, Elizabeth Taylor.

"I've been collecting my whole life," says Goldberg, who grew up in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, N.J., and acted as a child. "I grew up loving movies, theaters, actors."

That's evident just from walking past the gallery, which opened in November. In the window display, posters are displayed from famous films like the original, Rat Pack-heavy "Ocean's 11" from 1960; 1955's "Rebel Without a Cause" featuring James Dean as a rebellious teenager; and perennial favorite "The Ten Commandments," starring the recently departed Charlton Heston.

Goldberg hopes to open a large museum where her full, 1,500-piece collection can be displayed (the pieces not at the gallery are in secure storage).

Many are for sale. Some of the rarer pieces such as the "Robin Hood" poster, which Goldberg believes to be the only one of its kind, are exhibit-only. Much like old comic books or baseball cards, early movie posters are extremely rare simply because no one thought to keep them around. The pieces can be pricey. A poster from 1952's "Affair in Trinidad" starring Rita Hayworth has an asking price of $15,000. But Goldberg says that since the prices vary greatly (more recent posters are typically a few hundred dollars), wannabe collectors shouldn't be discouraged.

"We like helping others start their collections," says Goldberg, who adds that she's noticed more people getting interested in movie posters for home media rooms. "When you see their faces light up, it means everything to me."

What draws her to a poster isn't the price or rarity, but the aesthetic quality.

"I only want beautiful pictures," says Goldberg, who still enjoys going to the movies, naming the period piece "The Other Boleyn Girl" as a recent film she's seen. "If these people would come alive today, they'd say, 'Thank you. I looked so good there.' "

The movie posters are actually only part of Femme Fatales & Fantasies. The front section of the gallery is dedicated to Goldberg's own art, which she started producing when stricken with chickenpox about 20 years ago.

"I love glitter," says Goldberg of her art, which consists of ceramic-adorned canvases and ceramic figures. "I love to watch it dance in the light."

April 10, 2008