''Along the Great Divide'', 1951 - art by Klaus Dill
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Along the Great Divide'', 1951 - art by Klaus Dill
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage German movie poster of ''Along the Great Divide'', a Western film released in 1951, directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Kirk Douglas in one of the lead roles. The film is set in the rugged and picturesque landscapes of the American West and tells the story of a group of people who find themselves entangled in a tense and suspenseful situation.
Kirk Douglas plays the character of Len Merrick, a tough and determined U.S. Marshal who is responsible for escorting a dangerous outlaw named Kirk (played by Walter Brennan) to Santa Loma for trial. Along the way, they are joined by a young woman named Ann Keith (played by Virginia Mayo) and a mysterious man named Billy Shear (played by John Agar). As they journey through the treacherous wilderness, tensions rise, and loyalties are tested.
The film explores themes of justice, morality, and the human condition against the backdrop of the wild and untamed West. Kirk Douglas delivers a memorable performance as the no-nonsense lawman, and Walter Brennan's portrayal of the cunning and crafty outlaw adds depth to the story. Virginia Mayo and John Agar also contribute to the film's dynamic character interactions.
"Along the Great Divide" is known for its striking cinematography, showcasing the rugged beauty of the Western landscape. The film combines elements of action, drama, and suspense, making it a classic example of the Western genre from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Overall, "Along the Great Divide" is a notable entry in the Western genre, featuring strong performances from its cast and an engaging story set against the backdrop of the American frontier. It remains a part of Kirk Douglas's filmography and is worth watching for fans of classic Western cinema.
About the artist:
Klaus Dill's posters are powerful, bold, and energetic. Influenced by his career as a western comics illustrator, his posters also absorbed this predominant strong and adventurous spirit. Dill's painting style is realistic in depicting faces, delineated with great attention to shading, lighting, and contrasts between dark and bright tones.
However, the depiction of bodies makes his work incredibly powerful: Dill paints plastic, three-dimensional volumes. He molds his characters as if they were sculptures. Under his shaping brushstrokes, actors and actresses take on physical substance.
Klaus Dill (October 6, 1922, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany – February 19, 2002, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany) was a film poster painter and graphic designer.
Along with his two brothers and a sister, Dill grew up in the home of his grandfather, who ran a housewares shop. His father was a highly talented artist who worked in the advertising department at BASF. He encouraged and supported his son’s drawing attempts, giving him pointers and corrections. Inspired by the books he read, Dill was particularly fond of drawing cowboys and Indians of the American West.
At the age of 17, Dill enrolled at the exclusive Städelschule art academy in Frankfurt am Main. Today, the school accepts only about 20 students each year from over 500 applicants. About 75% of the students are from outside Germany.
Dill was forced to leave school in 1941 after getting drafted as a radio operator by the German army. His two brothers died in the war, while he survived after being taken prisoner by the Soviets in 1945. He returned home in 1949 to resume his studies, in spite of losing eight years of his artistic development.
He enrolled at the renowned art and design academy, Werkkunstschule (today's HfG Hochschule für Gestaltung), where his career as a painter of Western movie posters began. The German magazine Prinz called him "the German Hollywood painter."
Although Dill was a nephew of the well-known impressionist painter Otto Dill, his uncle never tutored or promoted him. By the time Otto died in 1957, Klaus had already become a recognized painter.
During Klaus’s time at the Werkkunstschule, he received his first film and book commissions, creating his first film poster for a Western in 1952. He was also commissioned by novelist Joachim Rennau to design dust jackets for his novels. In addition, he began designing covers for other books, including Zane Grey's stories.
On the 150th anniversary of German novelist Karl May in 1992, the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" newspaper called Dill "the best German western painter."
Search by the artist's last name to see more of their art.
Uploaded
February 2nd, 2022
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