THE MOVIE POSTERS
Many movie posters are part of the collective subconscious. Shocking images that transport us to the universe created by the feature film. Sometimes works so brilliant that we are before more remembered posters than any frame of the film itself. Marvels of cinematographic posters such as ‘Blade Runner’, ‘Jaws’, or ‘The Sting’, authentic works of art that are part of the history of cinema.
The 1960s can be considered the true ‘boom’ of artists who were ‘raffled off’ by the big Hollywood studios and who ended up making history with their creations for the movies of the time.
Bob Peak began making the poster for ‘West Side Story’ in 1961, but later several great films would come such as ‘Star Trek’ films, ‘Superman’ (1978), ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979) and after ‘The Spy Who Loved Me ‘ Several James Bond movie posters followed one another. Richard Amstel was selected to make the poster for ‘Hello, Dolly’ in 1969 after participating in a national contest organized by 20th Century Fox. He would continue his career with great titles such as ‘The Sting’ in 1973, ‘Chinatown‘ in 1974 or ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ in 1981 or ‘Mad Max3’ in 1985. John Alvin became known in the early eighties with two mythical posters: ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘E.T.‘ Which would be followed by the success of ‘Batman Returns’ in 1992 or ‘The Lion King’ in 1994.
Movie posters have reflected the visual character of the historical moment or artistic movement of each era. Regardless of their year of birth, they all have the clear intention of seducing the viewer using codes, signs and symbols that reflect the content and fundamental aspects of the film: the names of the actors, directors, locations, awards, phrases or slogans, etc. . Anything to grab our attention and push us to watch the movie. Although sometimes they go a step further and even decorate the walls of our houses. How many moviegoers don’t have a movie poster at home?
This month I am borrowing this article by Víctor Aguado, since I think I could not have explained better the essence that emanates from a movie poster.
