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Sailor beware! Loose talk can cost lives

Poster
1942 (made)
Artist/Maker
British and American Ambulance Corps. (issued by)
Falter, John (designer)
Place of origin
United States (made)

This American poster reflects the anxiety felt in Britain, that 'good time girls' were out to corrupt young innocent servicemen. The woman exudes seductiveness; her loose blonde hair tossed over her shoulder, the red of her sweater, lips and nails, her gold bracelet, even her stance, connote her sexuality and power. She stands taller than the sailor, embracing him, or entrapping him, with both arms, and her expression is cunning He smiles vacantly back at her, his hand clutching her arm, but despite his countenance, the gesture is obscure and it is unclear whether he is returning her embrace or involuntarily pushing her away. The poster warns 'Sailor beware!', making clear that it is his duty to resist.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Propaganda
Posters
Object type
Poster
TitleSailor beware! Loose talk can cost lives (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Paper
Ink
Lithography
Brief description
'Sailor beware!', World War II careless talk poster depicting a sailor and a blonde woman, by John Falter, issued by British and American Ambulance Corps., 1942
Physical description
'Sailor beware!', World War II careless talk poster depicting a sailor and a blonde woman. Both are pictured from the waist up, against a green background; the rest of the poster is buff-coloured. The woman, who is wearing a red dress and has red lips and blonde hair is embracing a uniformed American sailor. Above the image is the slogan, 'Sailor beware!', and below the image, printed in black on a pale blue 'banner', 'Loose Talk Can Cost Lives'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 50.8cm
  • Width: 35.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Sailor beware!' (Above the image, in black letters)
  • 'LOOSE TALK / CAN COST LIVES' (Below the image, printed in black against a blue tape or banner)
  • 'JOHN FALTER. . . -' (Along the lower edge of the image in red, immediately below the sailor's hand)
  • '© 1942' (Date, in lower left corner)
  • 'DISTRIBUTED IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, AND AS A MEANS OF OBTAINING FUNDS FOR AMBULANCES WHEREVER NEEDED, BRITISH AND AMERICAN AMBULANCE CORPS, INC., 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY' (distribution details, running along the lower edge of the poster, in white border, printed in black)
  • 'ART' (Symbol made of an eagle's head, forming the letter 'a', with the letters 'ART' below, within a squared oval)
  • 'LITHO IN U.S.A.' (Along edge in lower left corner, printed in black)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
War
Security
Propaganda
Espionage
Femininity
Women
Men
Sailors
Uniforms
Insignia
Jewellery
Cosmetics
World War II
Summary
This American poster reflects the anxiety felt in Britain, that 'good time girls' were out to corrupt young innocent servicemen. The woman exudes seductiveness; her loose blonde hair tossed over her shoulder, the red of her sweater, lips and nails, her gold bracelet, even her stance, connote her sexuality and power. She stands taller than the sailor, embracing him, or entrapping him, with both arms, and her expression is cunning He smiles vacantly back at her, his hand clutching her arm, but despite his countenance, the gesture is obscure and it is unclear whether he is returning her embrace or involuntarily pushing her away. The poster warns 'Sailor beware!', making clear that it is his duty to resist.
Associated objects
Other number
LS.481 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.592-2004

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Record createdMarch 28, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O122393/sailor-beware-loose-talk-can-poster-falter-john/
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