escape from alcatraz | Movie Poster Museum

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the three prisoners who escaped Alcatraz Island Penitentiary back in 1962, but were never found or heard from again — unless you saw Clint Eastwood’s portrayal in Escape From Alcatraz. And the arresting one-sheet was done by 1970’s-80’s star illustrator, Birney Lettick.

So whether you’re stuck in jail today or free as a bird, enjoy this ration of Alcatraz movie posters, including an early Boris Grinsson french poster for the never-before-seen (at least to my eyes), Alcatraz Island…

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.