A Man is Ten Feet Tall vs Edge of the City

theartofmovieposters

So I recently pick up the daybill for A Man is Ten Feet Tall...and when doing a bit of research found, it seems to have been re-released a few years later as Edge of the City, with a completely different daybill.

My question is why?  Any ideas.

HONDO

The original U.S. release title in 1957 was Edge Of The City and it appears that outside of the U.S. including Australia and the U.K. A Man Is Ten Feet Tall was substituted.

Due to Sidney Poitier becoming the number one box office attraction in the late 1960s it appears the MGM executives decided to try and bring in a few extra dollars at the world wide box office by re-releasing Edge Of The City in the late 1960s but this time retaining the original title and promoting Sidney Poitier to top billing plus heavily promoting three 1967 box office hits with two featuring Sidney Poitier and one John Cassavetes. Edge Of The City was re-released in the U.S.A. in 1968 and I located a few screening newspaper advertisements in Australia not long after that. 

theartofmovieposters

Thank you...still wonder why the title difference...

HONDO

I don't know but you may be interested in the following trivia from IMDB.

" Expanded from the 1955 hour-long live TV play ''A Man Is Ten Feet Tall'' broadcast on ''The Philco Television Playhouse"' ( 1948 - 1956)''.

The trailer of the film still identifies it by it's original live TV name A Man Is Ten Feet Tall"'. 

theartofmovieposters

Oh, thank you.  Will have to do some research when I am at home later in the week.   One of his films I haven't seen yet...

HONDO

Sidney Poitier appeared in the 1955 live TV broadcast as well. The role in the film was written specifically for him. Try and catch the film as it is an unsung gem shot realistically on location in New York. The cast is great with Sidney excellent as usual but also impressive performances particually from John Cassavetes and Jack Warden as a vicious bully . 1957 was a bumper year for Jack Warden giving brilliant performances in three  films and these being apart from Edge Of The City, The Bachelor Party and 12 Angry Men.

theartofmovieposters

12 Angry Men is one of my all time favourite films.  Must get myself a nice poster for this one.  Had the daybill, but didn't really do anything for me...Must do a re-watch, and will definitely chase up A Man is Ten Feet Tall or Edge of the City...whatever it is called now!

Wil

Love the Saul Bass design, just picked up 3 myself, timeless!