Empire Magazine – May 1995 – Jim Carrey – Dumb & Dumber – Brad Pitt – War of the Worlds

Original Vintage British Film Magazine | May 1995 | Jim Carrey Cover | Hollywood Cinema and Film Memorabilia

An original May 1995 edition of Empire Magazine, Britain's popular film and cinema publication, featuring a striking full-colour photograph of Jim Carrey, star of the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber.

This vintage issue captures an important period in 1990s Hollywood, when Jim Carrey had become one of the film industry's biggest comedy stars following the success of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber.

The front cover features a dynamic, energetic photograph of Carrey against a bright yellow background, accompanied by a headline examining his rapid rise to stardom and his reported $7 million-per-film earnings.

Additional cover features include Brad Pitt, backstage coverage of the Academy Awards (Oscars), an Orson Welles recording of The War of the Worlds, and Empire's regular film reviews.

An appealing vintage collectable for enthusiasts of 1990s cinema, classic Hollywood comedy, Jim Carrey memorabilia, Brad Pitt and original British film magazines.

Main Cover Feature – Jim Carrey in Dumb & Dumber

The magazine's centrepiece is a large, vibrant studio photograph of Jim Carrey.

Carrey is pictured wearing a dark button-up shirt with the sleeves pushed up and a pair of distinctive yellow-and-black patterned braces.

His hair is neatly parted and swept to the sides, while his expression is deliberately exaggerated, with his mouth wide open and eyebrows raised.

He leans dramatically forward towards the camera, extending one arm directly towards the viewer.

This creates an energetic, almost three-dimensional effect, capturing the physical comedy and expressive facial performances for which Carrey became internationally recognised.

The photograph is set against a bright yellow background, producing a strong contrast with his dark clothing and the large red EMPIRE masthead.

Cover Headline

JIM CARREY IN DUMB & DUMBER

Zero To Hero: Why This Man Is Worth $7 Million A Movie

This headline reflects Carrey's remarkable rise through the film industry during the early 1990s.

After gaining widespread attention through television comedy, Carrey became a major Hollywood box-office attraction.

His films released during 1994 included:

• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

• The Mask

• Dumb and Dumber

The cover story highlights the commercial success that established him as one of Hollywood's highest-profile comedy performers.

Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Dumb and Dumber is a comedy starring Jim Carrey as Lloyd Christmas alongside Jeff Daniels as Harry Dunne.

Directed by Peter Farrelly and written by the Farrelly brothers with Bennett Yellin, the film became a major success and is widely associated with the slapstick comedy style of the 1990s.

The magazine offers a period perspective on the success of Carrey's career rather than a modern retrospective.

This makes the issue particularly interesting to collectors of Jim Carrey memorabilia, classic 1990s comedy films and original cinema publicity.

Brad Pitt – Sex on Legs?

Across the upper-right cover banner is the headline:

BRAD PITT: SEX ON LEGS?

This advertises coverage connected with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, who was becoming one of the industry's most prominent leading men during the mid-1990s.

By this period, Pitt had attracted widespread attention through films including:

• Thelma & Louise (1991)

• A River Runs Through It (1992)

• Interview with the Vampire (1994)

• Legends of the Fall (1994)

The cover headline reflects the intense media interest in Pitt's Hollywood image and celebrity status at the time.

This issue therefore has additional appeal for collectors interested in Brad Pitt's early career and 1990s film-star publicity.

Please note: The exact length and contents of the Brad Pitt feature cannot be confirmed without photographs of the relevant interior pages.

Backstage at the Oscars

The upper-left banner advertises:

BACKSTAGE AT THE OSCARS

This feature promotes coverage of the Academy Awards and the film industry's annual awards celebrations.

As the magazine is dated May 1995, the feature is associated with the period of the 67th Academy Awards, held in March 1995.

The ceremony recognised films from 1994, including Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption and Four Weddings and a Funeral.

The feature offers an interesting contemporary connection to the film awards season of 1995.

For collectors of Academy Awards memorabilia and cinema journalism, the issue provides a snapshot of the Hollywood awards scene of the mid-1990s.

The exact backstage photographs and reporting are not visible in the supplied image.

Orson Welles – The War of the Worlds

A particularly distinctive feature appears on the lower-left section of the front cover.

A large black promotional panel advertises:

Orson Welles Reads

War of the Worlds

The advertisement features a dramatic monochrome image associated with the classic science-fiction story.

Historical Significance

The War of the Worlds was originally written by H. G. Wells and published in 1898.

Orson Welles became famously associated with the story through the 1938 radio adaptation produced by the Mercury Theatre on the Air.

The broadcast became one of the most widely discussed events in radio history and remains an important part of science-fiction and broadcasting culture.

Original Tape Promotion

The front cover prominently advertises:

NEVER BEFORE AVAILABLE! FREE TAPE!

The magazine was originally promoted with an audio recording connected to Orson Welles' reading of The War of the Worlds.

The promotional panel also instructs readers to contact their newsagent if the free tape was missing.

Important: The original promotional audio tape is NOT included with this magazine.

The advertisement remains printed on the original front cover and adds historical interest to the issue.

This feature may be particularly appealing to collectors of Orson Welles memorabilia, classic science fiction, vintage radio broadcasting and The War of the Worlds.

Empire Magazine – Film Reviews and Ratings

A circular black promotional graphic appears towards the lower-right side of the cover.

It reads:

Every New FILM Reviewed & Rated

This reflects Empire's traditional focus on contemporary cinema reviews, film criticism and movie recommendations.

During the mid-1990s, Empire was an established source of film news and reviews for British cinema enthusiasts.

The publication covered mainstream Hollywood films, British cinema and international releases.

The exact films reviewed in this issue cannot be confirmed from the front-cover photograph alone.

Original Cover Design and 1990s Magazine Style

The cover is a strong example of mid-1990s British entertainment-magazine design.

Notable visual features include:

• Oversized red EMPIRE lettering extending across the upper section.

• A contrasting cream and white background around the magazine title.

• A large central photograph of Jim Carrey.

• Bright yellow photographic background.

• Bold red and black film headlines.

• A black and gold promotional banner across the top.

• A monochrome War of the Worlds promotional image.

• A circular film-review advertisement.

• Large yellow and red lettering advertising the original free audio tape.

• A vertical barcode at the lower-right corner.

The combination of energetic celebrity photography, oversized typography and striking promotional graphics gives the publication a recognisably 1990s appearance.

The Jim Carrey photograph occupies much of the front cover and remains the dominant visual feature.

Publication Details

Magazine: Empire

Issue Date: May 1995

Original UK Cover Price: £2.35

Publication Type: Film and Cinema Magazine

Country of Publication: United Kingdom

Language: English

Main Cover Star: Jim Carrey

Main Cover Film: Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Other Cover Personality: Brad Pitt

Additional Subjects: Academy Awards, Orson Welles, The War of the Worlds, Hollywood Film Reviews

Publisher: EMAP (period publication)

Format: Printed Magazine

SKU: 1589

Condition – Important Information

Pre-owned vintage magazine with visible age-related wear, handling marks and imperfections.

The photograph shows the actual magazine being offered for sale.

Front Cover Condition

The front cover retains its original bold red EMPIRE masthead, bright yellow background and large Jim Carrey photograph.

The main cover photograph and headlines remain clearly visible.

However, several imperfections can be identified.

Visible Wear and Imperfections

• Noticeable rubbing and scuffing across the front-cover surface.

• Several small white marks and areas of print wear, especially visible against the red Dumb & Dumber lettering.

• Light scratches and surface marks across the central Jim Carrey photograph.

• Small scuffs around the upper-right section of the cover.

• Wear and minor creasing around the upper corners.

• Slight unevenness and minor bending along the upper edge.

• General edge wear along the left-hand side.

• Some rubbing and handling wear around the spine.

• Light wear along the lower edge.

• Minor corner rounding and small creases at the bottom corners.

• Several faint surface scratches and marks against the black promotional panel.

• Light age-related discolouration and handling marks across the lighter printed areas.

• Small marks around the barcode and bottom-right edge.

The upper-right portion shows some particularly noticeable minor surface wear close to the black header and red masthead.

The red Dumb & Dumber lettering has visible patches of surface print loss, while the central Carrey photograph has fine handling marks consistent with previous use and storage.

Spine and Binding

The visible spine edge shows signs of previous handling and general rubbing.

The magazine has not been photographed open, so the condition of the internal binding cannot be fully assessed.

Interior Condition

Only the front cover is visible in the supplied photograph.

The internal pages have not been individually examined, so their condition, completeness and any possible internal writing, creasing or other imperfections cannot be guaranteed.

Overall Assessment

Used vintage condition with noticeable but generally moderate surface wear, edge rubbing and some age-related marks.

The cover remains visually appealing, with strong colours and a clearly recognisable Jim Carrey photograph.

It is suitable for collectors seeking an original 1995 magazine, although buyers looking for a pristine or unread example should take the visible imperfections into account.

Please examine the photograph carefully before purchasing.

Important – Original Free Tape and Other Extras

MAGAZINE ONLY – ORIGINAL FREE TAPE NOT INCLUDED.

This issue originally advertised a free War of the Worlds audio tape featuring Orson Welles.

The tape is no longer present and is not included in this sale.

Any other original free gifts, promotional supplements, loose inserts, additional merchandise or items that may originally have accompanied the magazine are also not included.

Only the original magazine shown in the photograph is being sold.

Packaging and Delivery

The magazine will be carefully packaged to help protect it during transport.

UK Orders: Sent in a protective hardback envelope.

International Orders: Sent in a sturdy cardboard mail-size box for additional protection.

Collector Appeal

This original May 1995 edition may appeal to collectors of:

• Empire Magazine back issues.

• Original 1990s film magazines.

• Jim Carrey memorabilia.

• Dumb and Dumber (1994).

• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

• The Mask.

• Brad Pitt memorabilia.

• 1990s Hollywood cinema.

• The Academy Awards and Oscars.

• Orson Welles.

• The War of the Worlds.

• Classic radio and science-fiction history.

• Vintage film advertising.

• Cinema magazine cover photography.

• British entertainment publications.

• Classic comedy film memorabilia.

Summary

Original Empire Magazine – May 1995, featuring a memorable front-cover photograph of Jim Carrey promoting his success following Dumb and Dumber.

The cover also advertises Brad Pitt, backstage coverage of the Oscars, an Orson Welles War of the Worlds audio-tape promotion, and the magazine's film reviews.

An appealing piece of original mid-1990s cinema history with strong nostalgic interest.

Condition: Pre-owned, with visible surface scuffs, minor print wear, age-related marks, spine rubbing and edge/corner wear. Interior condition has not been verified.

Important: The original promotional War of the Worlds tape and any other originally supplied extras are not included.

UK postage: Protective hardback envelope.

International postage: Sturdy cardboard mail-size box.

SKU: 1589