An original black and white press still photograph for the 1990 Australian comedy The Big Steal, measuring the standard 10 x 8 inches and showing Ben Mendelsohn and Claudia Karvan in a school corridor scene. The image is printed on single-weight photographic paper with a white border, and a typed caption is printed in the lower margin reading: Ben Mendelsohn and Claudia Karvan in "The Big Steal" (15). The bracketed 15 is the British Board of Film Classification certificate, confirming this was issued for the film's UK release.

In the picture, Mendelsohn stands at the left in a dark short-sleeved top, hands open mid-gesture as he talks, while Karvan faces him at the right in a dark shirt and pale denim jeans with a wristwatch, arms by her sides. Behind them the corridor recedes past noticeboards and lockers with several other pupils in the background and a polished reflective floor. The reverse is completely blank - no stamps, agency credits, stickers or pencil notes of any kind. Supplied loose as the single photograph shown.

Condition & size

Pre-owned in Good condition. The photograph is complete and intact with no tears, creases through the image, pinholes or tape residue. There is light handling wear consistent with age, including a few faint surface marks and minor softening to the extreme corners and edges. The reverse carries one faint shallow surface mark towards the upper left and some very light overall handling toning, neither of which shows through to the printed side. The caption text in the lower margin is clean and fully legible, and the image itself retains good contrast. Not signed and not framed. Supplied loose as a single unmounted photograph. Please review all of the photographs closely, as they show the actual item you will receive and form part of this description.

Approx. 25.4 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 in); approx. 15 g

Background

The Big Steal is a 1990 Australian comedy directed by Nadia Tass and written by her partner David Parker, the team behind Malcolm. Set in suburban Melbourne, it follows teenager Danny Clark, who trades his car for a Jaguar to impress a classmate and is swindled by a dishonest dealer. It starred Ben Mendelsohn and Claudia Karvan alongside Steve Bisley, and won AFI Awards recognition on release. Stills like this were sent out by distributors to cinemas and newspapers as publicity material rather than sold to the public, so surviving examples are comparatively scarce. Interest has grown as Mendelsohn and Karvan have become internationally known, making early-career material from both increasingly collectable.

Who it's for

This will suit film memorabilia collectors, Australian cinema enthusiasts and anyone building a collection around Ben Mendelsohn or Claudia Karvan in their early careers. It is also well suited to fans of late eighties and early nineties coming-of-age comedies, and to anyone wanting an affordable original piece of cinema history to frame for a home, office or film room.

Estimated Date

1990, with UK distribution material most likely issued 1990-1991. The film was released in Australia in 1990, and the BBFC 15 certificate printed in the caption confirms this particular still was prepared for the British release.

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