The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back Style A “Gone with the Wind” Poster

While the previously mentioned “Circus” poster may be one of the most sought-after Star Wars one-sheet for collectors, the most beautiful looking might be a popular poster for the 1980 sequel, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V).

The Empire Strikes Back Style A poster was painted by artist Roger Kastel. The “Style A” poster is better known as the “Gone With the Wind” poster. The obvious reason being Kastel’s artwork is based on artist Tom Jung’s iconic Gone with the Wind movie poster, with Han Solo and Princess Leia standing in for Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara. Like the Empire film itself, the poster’s deep blues and image of the romantic couple certainly hinted at more story than one might expect in a blockbuster science fiction / fantasy film sequel.

After this ESB one-sheet appeared in theatres, actor Billy Dee Williams reportedly complained to 20th Century Fox that he wasn’t featured on the poster, despite his contractual billing in the film. The studio responded by immediately pulling the “Style A” poster from theatres, hence making it even more attractive to collectors. Later versions of the same artwork used combinations of new elements, including images of Billy Dee Williams (as Lando Calrissian), the Cloud City of Bespin, Yoda, and fan-boy favorite: bounty hunter Boba Fett.

You can also buy something called a “Sculpted 3-D Poster” version of this same Empire Version A artwork, although looking at the sculpture itself, we don’t know why you’d want to do that.

Buy this Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back poster at: AllPosters.com