What's up? I know that I gave you a week off from Type Tuesday, and Saul Bass last week, to talk a little bit about one of my projects... But I'm back, and as promised, I'm going to give you some amazing examples of Saul Bass's movie poster work. I'm also going to show you some posters that were inspired by him, even one of my own. What? I know. I'm too good to you. Honestly, I can't think of a better way to end my tribute to him. I could post some stuff about his corporate design work, and if you'd like me to, just let me know. So with out any further delay, here are the movie posters of Mr. Bass!
1.) Here we see Bass take a whimsical approach to the film The Two of Us by director, Claude Berri. I have to admit I've never seen this movie. But after watching the clip on the Criterion Collection website, it's now on my must see list!
SYNOPSIS: A young Jewish boy living in Nazi-occupied Paris is sent by his parents to the countryside to live with an elderly Catholic couple until France’s liberation. Forced to hide his identity, the eight-year-old, Claude (played delicately by first-time actor Alain Cohen), bonds with the irascible, staunchly anti-Semitic Grampa (Michel Simon), who improbably becomes his friend and confidant. Poignant and lighthearted, The Two of Us was acclaimed director Claude Berri’s debut feature, based on own childhood experiences, and gave the legendary Simon one of his most memorable roles in the twilight of his career. [1]
2.) I LOVE this movie, and this poster! Here's Bass's simple but effective poster for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. The large red color-field evokes the idea of blood, and notice how the bottom of the feather resembles a bird.
3.) O.K. so here's yet another film I haven't seen! Shameful! But the poster seems to capture the power of the film. I guess I'm going to be busy watching these movies over the next few weeks.
Here's some info from Wikipedia:
The Cardinal is a 1963 film which was produced independently and directed by Otto Preminger, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was written by Robert Dozier, based on the novel by Henry Morton Robinson. The film was shot on location in Boston, Rome and Vienna. The film's music score was written by Jerome Moross. The film featured the final appearance by veteran film star Dorothy Gish.
Robinson's original 1950 novel was based on the life of Cardinal Francis Spellman, who was then archbishop of New York. The Vatican's liaison officer for the film was Joseph Ratzinger, later to become Pope Benedict XVI.
Plot: The film shows the life of a fictional Irish Catholic priest, Stephen Fermoyle, played by Tom Tryon, from his ordination in 1917 to his appointment as a cardinal on the eve of World War II. Fermoyle goes through one crisis after another, first in his own family and then as he climbs up the ladder of the church hierarchy back in his Boston parish and later in Rome within the Vatican. The film touches on various social issues such as interfaith marriage, sex outside of marriage, abortion, racial bigotry, the rise of fascism, and war. [2]
4.) I really like the direct approach Bass has taken here to Otto Preminger's, In Harm's Way. This is simple and clear.
5.) I don't know if you've ever seen this movie, but it's really funny! Again Bass takes a whimsical and lighthearted approach to the poster design, summing up the gist of the film in one image.
6.) I honestly don't have to say anything here. I think you get the point. ;-)
7.) Here's another fun design by Bass for Billy Wilder's comedy, One, Two, Three. And it's another film I haven't seen. (yep, really busy catching up on my film history.)
Plot: Comedy about Coca-Cola's man in West Berlin, who may be fired if he can't keep his American boss's daughter from marrying a Communist. [3]
8.) Here's one that you might remember from one of my posts a few weeks back. This powerful poster was as controversial as the film. Bass opted to use the iconic crooked arm to symbolize the life of a heroin addict, instead of a photo of the films famous star, Frank Sinatra. Good choice!
9.) Anatomy of a Murder- Yet another design from one of my earlier post. Bold, Simple, Awesome!
10.) This movie scared the hell out of me when I was a kid! Red Rum, Red Rum... Cool it brat, Yeash!
This poster is as bold as Kubrick's film! It hits you over the head just like Jack and his shovel do to poor ol' Scatman Crothers. Also, the ghostly face emerging from the black of the title sets a very foreboding feeling.
Well, there you have it, my top 10 Saul Bass Movie Posters. I know I left out some of his better known ones. If you ask me, I could have put them all in, because they all rock! But I wanted to show some of what I thought were lesser known, and show the diversity of Bass's work. I can't decide which poster I like best. I want all of them!
Now here are some posters that give you that Saul Bass Lovin' Feeling!
First, sometimes homage is way too close to the real thing kids.
''It's disappointing anybody would do that,'' says Bass. ''It's flattering that someone would look back and say it's terrific. But I'm also puzzled. Do these people have such paucity of imagination -- and the chutzpah -- that they would do this and think it would remain undetected?'' — Saul Bass [4]
The Coen brothers paying respect to the man!
Burn After Reading
Poster design by Mojo [5]
PRECIOUS Poster
Poster design by Ignition Print [6]
The Butcher Boy
Poster design by Shoolery Design [7]
This is my attempt to pay respect to the master. I designed this poster for the modern dance collective, Pink Hair Affair, here in Philly.
If you're like me, and my guess is that you are if you're reading this now. You love movie poster design as much as I do! So, you should check out this cool site: www.impawards.com It's awesome!
See ya soon.
References
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] http://www.criterion.com/films/757-the-two-of-us (BTW you can buy great films on this site! Just saying.)
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cardinal
[3] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055256/
[4] http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,298637,00.html
[5] www.mojohouse.com
[6] http://ignitioncreative.net/index.html#/Print-All
[7] http://www.shoolerydesign.com/sdi.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.