Vintage original 27x41 in. US single-sided one-sheet poster from the 1980's drama/romance biopic, NIJINSKY, released in 1980 by Paramount Pictures and directed by Herbert Ross. Set in the early 1910's at a time of passionate artistic experimentalism, and based on biographical fact, this is the story of Vaslav Nijinsky (Gregory De La Pena), the young and brilliant, but headstrong, premier ballet dancer and aspiring choreographer of the Ballets Russes. The company is managed by the famous Sergei Diaghilev (Alan Bates), a controlling and fiercely possessive impresario. The increasing tension between these powerful egos, exacerbated by homosexual desire and jealousy, becomes triangular when the young ballerina Romola de Pulsky (Leslie Browne) determinedly attempts to draw the increasingly mentally unstable Nijinsky away from Diaghilev. The cast includes Alan Badel, Carla Fracci, Colin Blakely, Ronald Pickup, Vernon Dobtcheff, and Jeremy Irons.
This poster was designed by Richard Amsel (who is perhaps the most collected of contemporary movie poster artists) and his signature appears in the lower left corner of the frame around the three characters. Unrestored and rolled as originally issued, this vintage original single-sided one-sheet is in very fine- condition with random signs of light wear around the top edge and on the bottom corners. There are no pinholes, tears, stains, or other flaws and the beautiful color tints are fresh and vibrant without any signs of fading.
Executive Producer Harry Saltzman had wanted to make a movie about Nijinsky for many years, first attempting to produce a version in 1970 with partner Albert R. Broccoli. The movie was started, but was never finished, it being cancelled by Broccoli and Saltzman. It is known as Nijinsky: Unfinished Project (1970). It starred Rudolf Nureyev, was written by Edward Albee, and directed by Tony Richardson. Mikhail Baryshnikov, who had appeared in director Herbert Ross' previous ballet movie, The Turning Point (1977), turned down the lead role of Vaslav Nijinsky in this movie. Instead, Baryshnikov returned to the American Ballet Theatre and took up a promotion in the senior position of Artistic Director.