Willy - The Trap - 1960s

Offered here is an original Yugoslavian theatrical poster for the 1959. American film The Trap, directed by Norman Panama and starring Richard Widmark, Tina Louise, Lee J. Cobb and Earl Holliman.

This is a first-release Yugoslav edition, printed in Belgrade by Forum, featuring a striking hand-painted illustration signed “Willy ’61”—a well-known Yugoslav poster artist of the period.

The artwork shows Widmark holding a rifle in a tense noir-like atmosphere, while a woman (Tina Louise) in a white slip sits behind him. The design has bold colours, strong brushstrokes and a dramatic composition typical for early-1960s Yugoslav cinema graphics.

These Yugoslav releases for American films were often printed in limited quantities and many have not survived, making this example hard to find on the market.

Details

Title: Šerifov sin (The Trap)

Year: 1961

Country: Yugoslavia

Printer: Forum, Beograd

Director: Norman Panama

Cast: Richard Widmark, Tina Louise, Lee J. Cobb, Earl Holliman

Technique: Offset printing

Colours: Technicolor – VistaVision

Size: 70 × 50 cm (Yugoslav standard format)

Artwork: Signed Willy ‘61

Condition

Overall in very good vintage condition with normal signs of age:
Light edge wear
Some small pinholes in corners (typical for cinema use)
Minor creases along storage folds
Poster has an additional white backing sheet placed by a previous owner, which does not affect the front display and is common in older collections.
No major tears or missing sections. The colours remain vivid, and the artwork is well preserved.
All condition details are clearly shown in the photos.

Rarity

Original Yugoslav posters for Hollywood films from the early 1960s are increasingly collectible due to their unique locally produced artwork and limited survival rate.
This particular title is uncommon and highly attractive due to its dramatic illustration and signature of the artist.