American films have always been very willingly watched by the Poles not
only because of their quality but also due to the
role that USA played in the consciousness of an average Polish citizen
living in a communist country. Many went to see
American movies to become acquainted with the country that was meant to
counteract, both culturally and politically, the
Soviet Union. These were the times when only few people were allowed to
travel, so western films and American in
particular, showed different patterns of social and cultural behaviour.
They influenced fashion, the choice of music and
provided an instant trip to a different world. The attitudes caused by
American films raised the concern of the communist
establishment, to such an extend, that for almost ten years /1949-1957/
American movies disappeared from Polish screens. In
the late fifties /the era of political metamorphosis set off by Stalin's
death/ American films were back, this time to stay
for good.
We have a great pleasure in presenting these posters to you. They were
made in the period 1947-1992 and they are a part of
"The Art of Poster's" collection consisting of over five hundred American films'
titles from the period 1947-1999.