Robin Johnson

After all the work that went into creating the logo on the cover of the UK Press Kit, and the poster-worthy image that had been used to promote the movie’s production in the 21-28 June, 1980 Screen International, EMI went with this image for the UK movie poster. The painting of a frightfully gaunt Nicky, signed by “Cummins” (about whom I’ve been unable to find any information), was used for all the UK movie advertising, and for several of the other European posters. The film title and “‘Go Sleaze! …in Times Square” tagline are in a jagged faux-handwriting that’s probably supposed to look like graffiti, but doesn’t.

The small inset photos are the same ones used as insets on the inside of the UK Press Kit. The photo of Tim Curry is #4 from that Press Kit, previously published in The Aquarian in April 1980 and the September-October 1980 Prevue. The one of Robin and Trini is TS-22-11, or 1, from the UK Press Kit, depending on which copy I’ve pulled out first. The posters and ads that used this painting didn’t all use the same photos as the insets.

Nicky is first described in the 1979 screenplay as a “dark, skinny white girl.” We know Robin didn’t fit Allan Moyle’s original idea of what his Nicky looked like, winning the part through sheer charisma and making it hers. It’s possible that Cummins was working from a combination of photos of Robin and earlier descriptions of Nicky, coming up with this angry, and hungry, creature of the streets.