Megaforce / one sheet / USA

14.05.12

PosterPosterPosterPosterPoster
Title
Megaforce
AKA
--
Year of Film
1982
Director
Hal Needham
Starring
Barry Bostwick, Persis Khambatta, Michael Beck, Edward Mulhare, Evan C. Kim, Ralph Wilcox, Henry Silva
Origin of Film
USA
Genre(s) of Film
Sci-Fi | Action
Type of Poster
One sheet
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
USA
Year of Poster
1982
Designer
Unknown
Artist
Unknown
Size (inches)
27 1/16" x 41"
SS or DS
SS
NSS #
--
Tagline
There has never been a super hero like ACE HUNTER! | Deeds Not Words

Brilliantly over-the-top artwork on this US one sheet for the equally over-the-top 1982 action flick, Megaforce, which was directed by former stuntman Hal Needham, perhaps best known for Smokey and the Bandit (his directorial debut) and The Cannonball Run. The film focuses on an elite squad of soldiers equipped with an array of advanced weaponry and vehicles (several of which are depicted on this poster) who lend their help to a peaceful nation that is being invaded by the hostile forces of a neighbouring country.

Prolific film and TV actor Barry Bostwick plays Commander Ace Hunter, the leader of the titular unit who, in one of the more infamous scenes, rides a flying motorcycle to escape death and rendezvous with his squad in mid-air. The film was a commercial and critical failure and plans for a sequel called Deeds Not Words were shelved indefinitely. It didn’t help that the film was released in the summer of 1982 and was up against the likes of Blade Runner (released the same day) and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (released two weeks before).

Apparently, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are huge fans of the film and there are several references to it in their 2004 satirical action comedy Team America: World Police.

I’m unsure who is responsible for the artwork so please get in touch if you have an idea.

The trailer is on YouTube (“The good guys always win… even in the 80s!”)

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  1. Author
    Posted by paul haine
    Date Posted
    on 15 May 2012

    Certainly better than the poster they show at IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm694721536/tt0084316

  2. Author
    Posted by eddie
    Date Posted
    on 15 May 2012

    Ha! Definitely. Bostwick looks like George Michael in tight gold spandex .