Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Primary research into movie posters - Kiss Kiss Kill Kill, historical spy movie exhibition

I chose to visit Kiss Kiss Kill Kill Exhibition which was displaying European movie posters lost during the Cold War, I thought this would be relevant to my research being movie posters printed onto stock and a wide range of the available to see.
"Kiss Kiss Kill Kill at Leeds College of Art is a full remix of a touring exhibition first developed in partnership with UH Galleries and the Goethe-Institut, London."
"At the centre of the archive is a large collection of film poster graphic art and still photographs from all over the world. Numbering 5000+ pieces, the collection includes original artwork, posters, press books, lobby cards and front of house stills. 
 Preservation includes the complete digital restoration of graphic and photographic art scared by time. All images in the archive have been repaired with fold lines, paper loss, tape burn, scuffs and pinholes erased."

This movie poster entitled 'Inferno Per Pochi Dollari', which translates to 'LSD Flesh of Devil', was created for a film released in 1967. It appears to be similar to a James bond movie, showcasing a protagonist male role, whom is an action craved lothario, or so he appears. 
The film poster appears as rather modern despite it's age, the use of oil paintings or sketches are similar to that of Richard Amsel's work.














It is an Italian film which the poster has been designed by creator - Mario Piovano, having looked into other pieces of his design, it does resemble Richard Amsel's work and his style of execution.
The use of typography and hierarchy on his design is stunning and after it's time in my opinion, it appears to follow modernist views, and is used in a very functional way. 
Georges Kerfyser, an Italian designer has created these two movie posters in 1965/66, similar to Mario Piovano's design creations, they are very stunning pieces of design, making use of detailed oil portraits.
Kerfyser's left piece uses desaturated images, which are rather dull then are accompanied by bright flowing flouresent colours in the female character's hair, and a bring shocking pink piece of typography.
Incredible to see how such stunning posters were created in a time of Cold War Europe. 
This designer has created many other film posters, all have a professional feel to them and a style which must be reminiscent of 1960's Europe.
In some cases this Italian designer uses a singular bright colour in his piece which completely sets a tone for the movie.
Like Mario's work, this designer uses stunning Typography which is always very fitting to his design pieces. 

The first poster in this series of two are created by designer Charles Rau, a man whom is hard to find information about on the internet. 
It appears that Charles was a French designer whom similarly to Georges Kerfyser uses a typical bright colour in his designs which sets a tone around the film.

The Spy who went to hell and the Spy I love were both films which Charles Rau was commissioned to designer for.