Today’s smackdown features the grandiose illustration work of French poster artists, Hervé Morvan (top right + middle) and Bernard Lancy (top left)…
Of course, this Grand Illusion has nothing to do with the classic 1970’s album by Styx…
Category Archives: Artists & Illustrators
Ciriello Movie Posters!
Although he is generally not mentioned in the same breath as the incredible Italian trio of Ballester–Capitani-Martinati, it is without debate that fellow Italian artist, Averardo Ciriello, is right up there with the poster kings of design when you take a peek at his astonishing résumé of Hollywood classics.
My only guess is that the illustrator’s choice of doing girlie pin-ups for the Italian erotic comic book, Maghella, perhaps soiled his splendid reputation later in life. Whatever the case may be, his gorgeous work cannot be denied. (via MoviePosterDB)
Angelique Smackdown!
Sweet as angelico, sexy as Angelina Jolie…Here’s an International smackdown of the 1964-65 Angelique / Angelica movies — from the Italians (by artists, Ciriello, top left, and Putzu, top far right), the French, Belgian, and Polish.
Danish Delights!
When one thinks of pretty movie posters, the mind naturally visualizes the more sensual countries of origin (e.g., French, Belgian, or Italian), but EMoviePoster is trying to change that bias with its sweet collection of Danish beauties in its “World of Movie Posters” auction, which ends today, and features the usual Great Danes such as Wenzel, Stilling, and Gaston…
Throw Capone A Bone!
To finish off mob week, I figured we should go right to the top dog by featuring cinema’s most notorious gangster, Al Capone.
Several biopics have tried to capture the killer Capone, but I would pick out DeNiro’s performance in The Untouchables and Boris Grinsson’s French affiches of Rod Steiger as the best in the lineup — even though John Solie’s one-sheets of Ben Gazzara do make him look like a pretty badass version of the 1920’s kingpin…even if he is wearing spats!
Scarfaces!
Everybody’s favorite Scarface or, at least, the most popular is Al Pacino. But a lot of different actors have tackled the part of the notorious gangleader, or some B-movie bastardized version of the character.
So say hello to my little friends, which were created by the likes of such notorious poster artists as Osvaldo Venturi (bottom, left), Michel Landi (top, 4th on right), Rinaldo Geleng (top, far right), and Constantin Belinsky (bottom, middle).
Happy St. Valentine’s Day Massacre!
I know it isn’t exactly romantic considering today’s holiday, but I’ve always loved this Boris Grinsson-designed French grande of Roger Corman’s cult Capone classic, Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre (1967).
Remake Monday: Just Go With It
Although the trailer looks more like a remake of the Blake Edwards’ Bo Derek-starrer, 10, the new Adam Sandler-Jennifer Aniston-Brooklyn Decker movie, Just Go With It, is actually based on the late 1960s Walter Matthau-Goldie Hawn film, Cactus Flower.
By the way, the Cactus Flower one-sheet below was done by Bond designer legend, Robert McGinnis; and the voluptuous 10 by American beauty, John Alvin. (via ImpAwards)
Hervé Morvan, French Poster Genius!
No, I’m not talking about former Fantasy Island star, Hervé Villechaize — although you could say that Monsieur Morvan (1917-1980) has created a visual oasis with his designs that will be forever tattooed in our minds.
Similiar in style to Savignac, Morvan was known primarily for his playful, color print ads as his illustrations were stamped on everything from Perrier to Panzani Pasta, as well as beer, wine, and cigarettes. In 1942, he got his first crack at designing movie posters — and never looked back, covering such classics as The Grande Illusion and Casablanca. And now thanks to the recent PieBooks release, Herve Morvan: The Genius of French Poster Art, you can let your eyeballs soak up his scrumptious feast! (via FishInk)
Movie Poster Museum 