''A Streetcar Named Desire'', 1951 - art by Macario Quibus
by Movie World Posters
Title
''A Streetcar Named Desire'', 1951 - art by Macario Quibus
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Digital Art
Description
"A Streetcar Named Desire" is a 1951 drama film directed by Elia Kazan and based on Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. The film is celebrated for its powerful performances, particularly by Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois, and its exploration of complex and emotionally charged themes.
Plot:
The story centers on Blanche DuBois (played by Vivien Leigh), a fading Southern belle who arrives in New Orleans to stay with her sister Stella (played by Kim Hunter) and her brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski (played by Marlon Brando). Blanche's arrival disrupts the already volatile relationship between Stella and Stanley.
Blanche's refined and fragile demeanor clashes with Stanley's brutish and aggressive personality, leading to a series of confrontations and conflicts. As the layers of Blanche's troubled past are gradually revealed, the tension between the characters escalates, ultimately leading to a tragic and emotionally charged climax.
Legacy:
"A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) is celebrated for several reasons:
Vivien Leigh's Performance: Vivien Leigh's portrayal of Blanche DuBois is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and acclaimed performances in film history. She won an Academy Award for her role, and her nuanced portrayal of the character's mental and emotional descent is considered a masterpiece.
Marlon Brando's Breakout: The film also marked a breakthrough moment for Marlon Brando, who played Stanley Kowalski. His raw and intense performance helped establish him as a major Hollywood talent.
Adaptation of a Classic Play: The film successfully brought Tennessee Williams' acclaimed play to the screen while retaining much of the original dialogue and capturing the essence of the stage production.
Exploration of Complex Themes: "A Streetcar Named Desire" delves into themes of desire, repression, mental illness, and the clash of cultures and personalities, making it a compelling and thought-provoking work.
Direction and Cinematography: Elia Kazan's direction and the film's cinematography, which used innovative techniques to convey the characters' inner turmoil, contributed to its artistic excellence.
The film's impact on cinema and its enduring status as a classic of American filmmaking are attributed to its exceptional performances, powerful storytelling, and its willingness to tackle challenging and taboo subjects. "A Streetcar Named Desire" remains a cinematic treasure, known for its exceptional acting and its exploration of the human psyche.
About the artist:
Macario ("Mac") Gomez Quibus (1926-2018), born in Reus (Tarragona) Spain in 1926, was a well-known Spanish film poster artist. He developed a reputation among Hollywood studios for the powerful images he painted on Spanish film posters. He signed his works using the nickname, "Mac."
In his style, Mac is an artist with two faces. Some works are strongly expressive and dramatic, others lighter and luminous. There are movies posters characterized by vigorous brushstrokes, chiaroscuro effects, dark palettes, and almost Caravaggio-like lighting; others are extremely graphic, linear, schematic, characterized by the dazzling use of white color. The art of Quibus is a painting style based on lights and shadows, which goes beyond the conformist standards of design to achieve great expressive power.
When he was two, his father died in a work accident. Following an early talent in art, Mac studied at the School of Fine Arts beginning in 1935 and during the Spanish Civil War. At the age of 20, he visited Barcelona's Museum of Modern Art, where he discovered the work of 19th century Catalan painter Mariano Fortuny. Enamored by his style, Mac spent days examining Fortuny's canvases.
With a renewed motivation to continue studying art, he enrolled at the Escola de Belles Arts in Barcelona. He also began working in 1952 with an advertising company specializing in cinema. Later, he created art for the famous design studio, Clavé and Martí Picó (MCP), where he made numerous posters. One was a poster for "Ivanhoe," which caught the attention and acclaim of a senior executive at MGM.
In 1956, he earned his most significant break when Paramount studios hired him to design the poster for "The Ten Commandments," which led to a friendship with its star, Charlton Heston. Mac gifted Heston with a custom-painted portrait of Moses from the film, which the actor hung in his office. Similarly, Kirk Douglas received the original painting for "The Justices of the West."
From that point on, he continued to develop a style that transgressed the standard rules of composition and interpretation. Instead, he produced unique works with great expressive force. His style was credited for its creativity, nonconformity, and harmony. In recognition of his talent, in 1955, he was put in charge of all the publicity material for Tandem Films, a major Madrid film production company, and distributor.
Throughout his 20-year career, Mac earned esteem as one of Spain's finest film poster artists, having created over 4,000 works. Among the numerous Spanish posters he painted are some of today's most beloved films: "Casablanca," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Rebeca," "Moulin Rouge," "El Cid," "Dr. No," "Play it Again, Sam," and "From Russia with Love."
Mac eventually became an independent artist who worked with all the American distributors. And although he had the chance to move to the United States, he chose not to leave his family or the creative inspiration he received living in Barcelona.
During his career, he received numerous honors. In 2012, the Sitges festival premiered the short film "Un chico de Portada," directed by David Muñoz, covering Mac's life and work, with interviews with the artist himself. In 2013, he was named an honorary member of the Catalan Film Academy. And in 2014, he received the Creu de Sant Jordi from the Generalitat de Catalunya. In addition, his work has been exhibited at the National Film Library in Madrid and the Verdi cinema in Barcelona.
By the time of his death in 2018, at the age of 92, he had created over 4,000 works, many of which still captivate movie fans today.
Search "Mac" to see more of his posters.
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December 28th, 2020
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