Authentic Hand-Painted Arabian Adventure Movie Poster from Ghana

This hand-painted movie poster representing "Arabian Adventure" (1979) captures the essence of the adventurous fantasy film. The vivid colors and dramatic illustrations reflect the film's enchanting and mystical themes, embodying the unique style of Ghanaian hand-painted movie posters.

Cultural and Artistic Significance

Ghanaian hand-painted movie posters are a rich form of African art born from the need to advertise mobile cinema screenings across Ghana. Hand-painted on recycled flour sacks by local artists, these posters were created for the local cinema to promote movies. This tradition showcases the creativity and resourcefulness of local artists who interpret movies onto canvas with bold colors and exaggerated features, making each poster a unique piece of art.

With the arrival of video and video cassettes in Ghana during the 1980s, a small-scale film distribution mobile cinema was created. Local operators, equipped with a television, a video player, and occasionally a portable generator, moved from place to place showing films. In order to gather as many spectators as possible, they needed large and attractive posters, which led to the birth of this unique art form.

Talented artists created large-size posters using oil paint on used cotton flour sacks sewn together. They had the freedom to add and change scenes to make the posters more appealing. These posters are now highly collectible and have been exhibited in museums worldwide. However, due to their exposure to harsh conditions, many have been damaged or destroyed over time. The decline of mobile cinema in the mid-1990s led to the use of cheaper photocopy paper posters, reducing the prevalence of these hand-painted artworks.

Film Information

"Arabian Adventure" (1979)

• Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
• Director: Kevin Connor
• Cast: Christopher Lee, Milo O'Shea, Oliver Tobias, Emma Samms, and Peter Cushing among others.
• Plot: The film follows the story of a wicked caliph who seeks a magical rose, the source of great power. A young hero embarks on a perilous journey to find the rose and thwart the caliph's evil plans, encountering various mystical creatures and allies along the way.

"Arabian Adventure" is a captivating fantasy film directed by Kevin Connor, featuring a stellar cast including Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. The movie's plot revolves around a young hero's quest to defeat a malevolent caliph by finding a magical rose. The film is known for its imaginative storyline and special effects that bring the fantastical elements to life, making it a memorable adventure for audiences.