A Century of Movie Posters: From Silent to Art House

Emily King

Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated, 2003 - Performing Arts - 224 pages

Film buffs, graphic designers, and art students will relish this beautifully produced and strikingly illustrated volume. Arranged in roughly chronological order, it brings together movie posters from around the world, starting with Charlie Chaplin film ads and the Russian Revolutionary movie posters of the 1910s, then spanning the century to show posters publicizing hits of the 1990s, including The Silence of the Lambs, Spike Lee films, and many more. The books sections focus on renowned individual designers, directors, movies, and genres. Important poster designers such as Saul Bass, Jan Lenica, and Juan Gatti receive particular attention, as do great directors who had strong opinions about how their films should be represented. Among the latter are Alfred Hitchcock, Jean-Luc Godard, and Otto Preminger. All major film genres are represented musicals, Kung Fu movies, films noir, westerns (including so-called spaghetti westerns filmed in Italy), science fiction classics, and others. Readers are treated to examples of movie posters not only from the United States, Britain, and France, but also to previously unpublished examples from countries as diverse as Poland, China, and Cuba. For instance, fans of Orson Welles might be surprised to see the previously unpublished Italian poster advertising Citizen Kane under its Italian title, Quarto Potere (The Fourth Estate). This handsome volume will be valued by graphic designers, poster collectors, and anyone sharing the popular passion for cinema.Pierre Jeunet.

What people are saying

Review: A Century of Movie Posters: From Silent to Art House

User Review  - Trike - Goodreads

A pretty nice overview of movie posters since the beginning of cinema. Shows posters from around the world, not just Hollywood. Some interesting tidbits of info, but few truly new pieces for ...

Review: A Century of Movie Posters: From Silent to Art House

User Review  - Bunny - Goodreads

Actually quite fun to look at. I didn't learn anything new, but the movie posters from other countries were especially nice to see. Also enjoyed by Falon, even though there were a couple in there that mayyyyybe weren't so appropriate for her to see.

About the author

Emily King is a lecturer and writer specializing in twentieth-century graphic arts. She is currently visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art, London, and design editor for Frieze magazine, a British publication.

Bibliographic information

• Title: A Century of Movie Posters: From Silent to Art House
• Editor: Emily King
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated, 2003
• ISBN: 0764155997, 9780764155994
• Length: 224 pages
• Subjects: Antiques & Collectibles / Posters; Art / Commercial / Advertising; Design / Graphic Arts / Advertising; Performing Arts / Film & Video / General; Performing Arts / Film & Video / History & Criticism