Like Hitchcock, Jacques Tati wasn’t afraid to insert himself into his movies as his Monsieur Hulot character/profile was finely cultivated and featured prominently in many of these alternative versions of posters from various countries.
Here’s a more detailed poster comparison for Trafic (of course, not to be confused with Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic).
Jacques Tati, the French filmmaker known for his playful, experimental films of sound and color, was one of the first directors to make Modernism funny. Although his movies aren’t exactly a barrel of laughs, the wit and style is abundantly clear (even if I did fall asleep in college during a screening of Playtime). The fact that he is often mentioned as one of the greatest directors of all-time even though he only made six feature films is a legacy in itself.
But I’m sure this masterful minimalist would’ve been bored to tears with all the fawning and retrospectives, so let’s not talk and just sit back and enjoy the ride…
And here’s some old school lobby cards (via MoPo)…
Have a fantastic Fourth of July weekend!
Over the past year or so, I’ve had my eye on a number of aesthetically awesome movie posters on Ebay and EMP, but I was usually always outbid. And often times it was by another bidder identified only as “Nicklyk”. So I wondered, who is this Nicklyk and why is he/she stealing away my dream collection?
Well, after some due diligence, I discovered that Nicklyk is Nick Lykiardopulo, the sizzingly stylish owner of The Image Gallery in Athens, Greece that specializes in Pop Art and, yes, movie memorabilia and advertising art (plus, he’s on Facebook!)…Unfortunately, since I can’t imagine I’ll be jetting to Greece anytime soon, I can only fantasize about what wonderful one-sheets he has adorning his gallery walls. Great stuff, Nick!
Anybody who’s ever tried to buy an original vintage movie poster on eBay can tell you it’s like finding a needle in a haystack because they’re either insanely overpriced or impossible to find unless you’re searching for a specific title, not to mention risky because of a variety of factors — inaccurate descriptions, condition, fakes, reproductions, etc.
But I’ve found an excellent reputable dealer of French movie posters who calls himself Weatherking and I’ll probably regret broadcasting this because that means his affordable prices will most certainly go up — but the WK’s having another one of his monthly eBay auctions from June 15 to June 22, so don’t miss out!
Although not as well-known or, quite frankly, important as Jonas Salk, his polio-fighting namesake, Larry Salk (1936-2004) (no relation) made his own profound impact on the world of key art. He got his start in fashion illustration and then quickly evolved into the world of movie poster work, where he designed over 165 one sheets for various film studios and distributors.
But, ironically, what Salk is probably going to be most remembered for is his infamous oil portrait of Kramer from an episode of the 90’s hit TV show, Seinfeld.
What’s it all about, Alfie? It’s hard to believe that at one point in time Michael Caine was a heartthrob on par to this generation’s Jude Law. Not that he’s not an incredibly charming, attractive, accomplished guy — but I guess I just can’t get those images of him from Blame It On Rio or Hannah And Her Sisters out of my head.
Movie Poster Museum 