Film Fantasy Card Game
First Published: 1939, Anonymous
Illustrator or Designer: Not credited but after MGM productions and their affiliates
Contents: 45 Cards + Fold-Out Rules Leaflet
Film Fantasy Box Front With Thumb Cut
The pack of 45 cards is made up of 11 sets of 4 cards each depicting scenes or stars of a film and a Joker.
Film Fantasy cards: Lucky Night and Idiots Delight
Film Fantasy cards: Serenade and Good-Bye Mr Chips
Film Fantasy cards: Calling Dr. Kildare and The Lambeth Walk
Film Fantasy cards: The Hardy's Ride High and It's A Wonderful World
Film Fantasy cards: Tarzan in Exile and Ice Follies of 1939
Film Fantasy cards: Bridal Suite and The Joker Card from Ice Follies of 1939
All of the 11 films featured were made or distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM. MGM are not mentioned on the box or in the rules but the MGM Logo of "Leo" the Lion with the Latin motto ARS GRATIA ARTIS (Art for Art's Sake) is featured on the card backs. At the time MGM were producing around 50 new films a year so there were plenty of "modern film productions" to choose from.
As the game was created for the British market it must have seemed prudent to include two locally produced films: Goodbye Mr Chips was made by MGM London Films Denham Ltd and The Lambeth Walk was produced by Pinewood but distributed by MGM who renamed it Me and My Girl for the US market.
The World of Playing Cards article on the game is by Rex Pitts and includes his guide to all the films featured.
Film Fantasy was registered to Castell Brothers in September 1939. The game was published anonymously. In Pepys, The Story of The Company and its Games 4th Ed. p9, Rex Pitts suggests that this was "probably because it was connected to another studio when Pepys had such strong links with Walt Disney".
The pack featured here was part of Rex Pitts' personal collection.
Game & Version Details
 | Film Fantasy - Card Back |
 | Film Fantasy - Rules Front |
 | Film Fantasy - Rules Back |
 | Film Fantasy - Box Back With sample card |
 | Film Fantasy - Box Top |
 | Film Fantasy - Box Side Left |
 | Film Fantasy - Box Base |
 | Film Fantasy - Box Side Right |
 | Film Fantasy - Box Back With Flap |