Sad news today about ex-teen star, Corey Haim.
Author Archives: russ
Fair Play
Once again, thanks to Sim Branaghan’s excellent book, British Film Posters, I discovered the life and work of Vic Fair, a rockin’ Englishman who did his part to push the boundaries of the “quad”-rophenia (for all you Who fans out there)!
Vic Gets Ripped?
Recognize the similarities between the much-lauded 1989 Oscar winner, Driving Miss Daisy, and Vic Fair’s poster for the 1973 British melodrama, The Hireling? Hmmm.
Who Is Scakisbrick?
There’s an artist known as Scakisbrick who’s probably most famous for the Cheech & Chong movie posters — but I don’t really know anything more about him/her other than stumbling across the name at EMoviePoster and Posteritati.
Do you know who he/she is?
Slash Presents BAFTA
SlashFilm recently posted some cool retro posters from BAFTA (British Academy of Film & Television Arts) of Oscar-nominated films — and now winners!
No Smoking For The Bandit.
Upon hearing of Burt Reynolds‘ recent heart surgery (and expected full recovery!), I got a little wistful recalling some of his more popular movies from the 70’s and 80’s. Other than Clint Eastwood, I can’t think of another movie star who was featured in so many cool posters — if not, entirely successful movies. And I’m not talking about the macho, rugged, respectable Deliverance Burt or The Longest Yard Burt — I mean the funny, goofy, cheesy Burt from Paternity (by of my faves, Birney Lettick) and Stroker Ace…Get well, Burt. We love ya!
The British Godfather
Eric Pulford was perhaps the most important figure in British movie poster history, conceiving thousands of designs in his storied fifty-year career. After buying a controlling interest in Downtons Advertising, he turned it into the chief film agency in England and employed numerous talented photographers and illustrators — most notably, “The Italian Connection” of Renato Fratini (From Russia With Love) and Arnaldo Putzu — to execute its brilliant print campaigns.
Mr. Pulford died in 2005 at the age of 89.
What A Putzu!
Arnaldo Putzu, the brilliant, though unfortunately named Italian illustrator, stormed British shores in the late 1960’s and lit up England’s theatre lobbies and magazine covers for years to come with his dazzling, colorful, handcrafted posters. And rumor has it that he’s still alive and well and painting in Rome!
Beauvais Beauties!
Starting out as an apprentice to UK legend, Tom Chantrell, Tom Beauvais sketched out quite a colorful path for himself, designing several memorable quads for Mad Max, Honkytonk Man, and Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.
To learn more about him and British Film Poster artists in general, check out this interesting podcast by Sim Branaghan…
Movie Poster Museum 