Vintage Films Posters

There is a particular magic instilled within a film poster, especially when it is for one of history’s greats. Everything about the concoction of a great film, from its ambiance to its technical sorcery to its talented actors to its epiphanic screenwriting needs to be encapsulated in the poster that is meant to introduce it to the public. This unique medium attracts some of graphic design’s best players, as often visual artists are tantalized by the same enigmatic mystery that appeals to filmmakers. As a result the posters that have been designed are some of graphic art’s most compelling.

Many times these monumental entities are done by unnamed or unknown artists, perhaps simply a great designer who was unfortunately lost in the folds of the storm that inevitably surrounds the making of a great film— yet their work pervades through time nonetheless, etched in our memories as a preserved representation of everything we love about the film.

In this 1972 reprint of the original 1964 Stanley Kubrick film Dr. Strangelove, the artist made bold use of typography and color, contrasted against the lighthearted tone of a cartoon illustration to perhaps communicate the absurdity of drama and disconnect. Whether intentional or not, the concept is impressioning and unforgettable.

A first edition 1973 poster for the film Magnum Force starring Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry is a crackling combination of photography and illustration, with a dynamic composition and color palette that reflects the tone of the film unerringly.