Original The Leopard - Il Gattopardo (1963) – Original 2003 BFI UK Quad Cinema Poster

The Leopard (Il Gattopardo) – Original BFI UK Quad Cinema Poster

Collector-Grade UK Quad – BFI Restored Release

Offered here is an original UK Quad cinema poster produced for the BFI’s restored theatrical re-release of The Leopard (Il Gattopardo), Luchino Visconti’s monumental 1963 historical epic. Issued to accompany the BFI-backed revival and new print presentation, this poster represents a key modern exhibition artefact tied directly to the film’s restoration and critical canonisation.

Elegant, restrained, and unmistakably archival in tone, this UK Quad reflects the BFI’s curatorial approach to European cinema—respectful of the original work while presenting it anew for contemporary audiences.

Film & Cultural Significance

Directed by Luchino Visconti and starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, and Claudia Cardinale, The Leopard is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. A sweeping meditation on class, power, and historical inevitability, the film charts the decline of the Sicilian aristocracy during the Risorgimento with operatic scale and intimate psychological depth.

Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and long championed by filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, The Leopard stands as a cornerstone of European art cinema. The BFI restoration and reissue cemented its status for modern audiences, presenting the film in a newly restored print that honoured Visconti’s meticulous visual design.

Poster Artwork & Design

This UK Quad features a refined, cinematic composition that balances romance, introspection, and grandeur:

• A central ballroom dance image evokes the film’s most iconic sequence

• A large, monochrome close-up underscores the film’s emotional and psychological weight

• Soft, painterly colour tones echo the film’s lush production design

• Discreet “Restored New Print” and BFI Release markings confirm its exhibition provenance

Typography is classical and restrained, allowing the imagery—and the film’s reputation—to speak for itself. The overall design aligns perfectly with BFI standards: museum-grade, elegant, and timeless.

Specifications

• Film: The Leopard (Il Gattopardo)

• Director: Luchino Visconti

• Poster Type: Original UK Quad (BFI release)

• Format: 30 × 40 inches, Single Sided, Rolled

• Printer / Distributor: British Film Institute (BFI)

• Print Status: Restored New Print theatrical issue

• Condition: Listed in Near Mint Minus condition

Collector’s Note

BFI reissue UK Quads occupy a distinct position within poster collecting. Produced in limited numbers, never intended for retail sale, and tied to curated theatrical runs, they appeal to collectors who value cinema history as preservation, not nostalgia.

This Leopard UK Quad is particularly desirable for:

• Collectors of European and art-house cinema

• Admirers of Visconti and Italian neorealism’s evolution

• BFI and restoration-era poster specialists

• Collectors seeking museum-quality, understated design

A dignified, scholarly, and visually arresting piece—worthy of one of cinema’s most revered epics.