''On the Waterfront'', 1954 - art by Anselmo Ballester #1
by Movie World Posters
Title
''On the Waterfront'', 1954 - art by Anselmo Ballester #1
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Mixed Media
Description
"On the Waterfront" is a 1954 American crime drama film directed by Elia Kazan, written by Budd Schulberg, and starring Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, and Lee J. Cobb. The film is widely regarded as a classic of American cinema and is celebrated for its powerful performances, gritty realism, and its exploration of moral and ethical dilemmas.
Plot:
The film is set in the tough and corrupt docks of Hoboken, New Jersey. It follows the story of Terry Malloy (played by Marlon Brando), a longshoreman and former boxer who becomes entangled in the criminal activities of Johnny Friendly (played by Lee J. Cobb), the corrupt union boss who controls the waterfront.
When Terry unwittingly plays a role in the murder of a fellow dockworker who planned to testify against the union's corruption, he is wracked with guilt and conflicted about his involvement. The arrival of Edie Doyle (played by Eva Marie Saint), the sister of the murdered man, further intensifies Terry's inner turmoil. As Terry's conscience begins to weigh heavily on him, he faces a moral dilemma: should he remain loyal to the corrupt union or cooperate with the authorities and seek justice for the workers?
Legacy:
"On the Waterfront" is celebrated for several reasons:
Marlon Brando's Iconic Performance: Marlon Brando's portrayal of Terry Malloy is considered one of the greatest performances in film history. His realistic and emotionally charged acting helped redefine the craft of acting in cinema.
Powerful Social Commentary: The film addresses important social issues, including labor corruption, organized crime, and the individual's responsibility to stand up against injustice.
Directorial Excellence: Elia Kazan's direction skillfully captures the gritty atmosphere of the docks and brings out the raw emotions of the characters.
Memorable Score: The film features a memorable and evocative score composed by Leonard Bernstein.
Award Recognition: "On the Waterfront" received widespread critical acclaim and won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Marlon Brando.
Enduring Influence: The film's themes and memorable moments, such as Brando's famous "I coulda been a contender" speech, have left a lasting impact on cinema and popular culture.
"On the Waterfront" is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences for its exploration of moral dilemmas, powerful performances, and its portrayal of the struggle for justice in a corrupt world. It remains a landmark in American cinema and is often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.
About the artist:
Anselmo Ballester (1897–1974) was a noted Italian painter and film poster designer from Rome. He was the son of Federico Ballester (Rome, 1868–1926), a painter of Spanish origins. Inspired by his father's artistic endeavors growing up, Anselmo completed his first works at 15.
After attending the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, he specialized in film advertising for the most important silent film production houses. He created posters and other advertising material for CINES, Caesar Film, and numerous other studios.
In his studio in Rome, via della Croce 50a (then via della Passeggiata Ripetta 19), he spent almost 50 years creating thousands of sketches for playbills and paintings for film posters. He went on to form the design company BCM along with two other prominent Italian poster artists, Alfredo Capitani and Luigi Martinati
The movie posters Ballester created between the 1930s and 1950s showcased his unique painting style using tempera medium and bold colors. They typically featured one or two significant characters. His style is reminiscent of pulp fiction covers and, like the best cinema advertisements, were infused with intrigue, conflict, and passion. His works were uncomplicated yet rich in detail, a techniqe and style he himself describes:
"To become a creator of film posters ... it is necessary to study passionately, always to draw and paint everything from the truth. Then you can let your imagination run free. Whether you are creating a work of art, or a more humble advertising poster, you must be able to attract the interest of the public, to satisfy both the most refined people and the roughest, who are the majority."
From a stylistic and compositional point of view, Alfredo Ballester began by drawing inspiration from the advertising posters of Art Nouveau, and then he defined his personal code. The painter exhibited a common layout in his movie posters: the actor or actress beautifully portrayed in the foreground, and one or two scenes from the film in the background.
To achieve this result, he used a methodical technique, making numerous sketches of the project only after having the best two selected by the client, he devoted himself to the final painting, strictly handmade.
Ballester's color palette, however, was his greatest talent. The artist used colors expressively, as a tool to convey emotions. The portraits of the stars were extremely realistic but often colored with unnatural hues such as pinks or intense light blues. Ballester illustrated his characters with colors capable of conveying the range of feelings transmitted by the film.
He was written about in "Anselmo Ballester: the Origins of the Film Poster," published by the University of Parma, Study Center and Communication Archive in 1981. In addition, Dave Kerr made extensive use of his images in his 2003 book, "Italian Film Posters, "published by The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Permanent collections of his work are displayed at the University of Parma, Communication Studies Center and Archive (CSAC) and the Cinema Museum in Brush, Montecosaro.
To see more of his posters search by his last name.
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December 25th, 2020
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