Let There Be Lettick (1919-1986)

Posted on December 15, 2009 by russ

Whenever I’m browsing through DVDs of old 70’s and 80’s movies, I’m always attracted to this former magazine illustrator’s work. You see, when Birney Lettick was not busy doing movie posters, he apparently had a very prolific career drawing portraits of such powerful figures as Ayatollah Khomeini and Ronald Reagan for Time.

And what an unusual spelling of his name! I’ve heard of a lotta Bernies before (Bernie Mac, Bernie Madoff, Bernie Kopell, etc.) — but never Birney. So if you’re in the mood, take a moment to stop your world and melt with Birney’s Valley Girl and many other classics.

Indiana Jones: Amsel vs. Struzan

Posted on December 11, 2009 by russ

Whose Indy work do you prefer: Richard Amsel’s (top) or Drew Struzan’s (bottom)?

(NOTE: If you zoom in, you can see the artist’s signatures on the bottom lower right of each poster…something I’m sure today’s corporate studio marketing departments would never allow!)

Legend of the Day: Richard Amsel (1947-1985)

Posted on December 10, 2009 by russ

Probaby best known for his iconic Raiders of the Lost Ark work, Richard Amsel had a brief but prolific career and was recently honored with a retrospective at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia…

Legend of the Day: Drew Struzan

Posted on December 9, 2009 by russ

This guy has created a ton of powerful images with his recognizable drawing style: Indiana Jones, Back To The Future, Coming To America…Stroker Ace — okay, well, he’s not paid to direct. Buy the book or hit up his website!

Gift Books!

Posted on December 8, 2009 by russ

Still looking for gifts for fellow movie poster fans? Check out The Art of the Modern Movie Poster from Chronicle Books.

It’s an excellent resource on the history of one-sheets, emphasizing International designs. In fact, after reading this baby, I discovered that a recently purchased poster of mine from EMoviePoster.com was created by Osvaldo Venturi, a prominent Argentinean artist in the 30’s and 40’s. And only $12!

Bob Peak, Movie Poster Artist Legend

Posted on December 7, 2009 by russ

Meet Bob Peak, the man who is at the pinnacle of movie poster design and decorated theatre marquees throughout the ’60s and ’70s and introduced cinema lovers to everything from Apocalypse Now to Star Trek to My Fair Lady to Superman. That’s called range!