''El Cid'', 1961 - art by Georges Allard

by Movie World Posters

Title

''El Cid'', 1961 - art by Georges Allard

Artist

Movie World Posters

Medium

Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster

Description

A vintage French movie poster of ''El Cid'', a historical epic film released in 1961, directed by Anthony Mann and starring Charlton Heston in the titular role of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid Campeador. The film is set in medieval Spain during the 11th century and is loosely based on the life of the real historical figure El Cid, a legendary knight and military leader who fought for both Christian and Muslim rulers during the Reconquista, the centuries-long struggle to recapture Spain from Moorish rule.

The story of "El Cid" is a sweeping tale of honor, chivalry, and love. It follows the life of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a Castilian nobleman who becomes a legendary hero and warrior. The film explores his early years, his loyalty to King Ferdinand (played by Ralph Richardson), and his love for the beautiful Chimene (played by Sophia Loren). However, his loyalty and love are put to the test when he is unjustly accused of treason by Count Ordoñez (played by Herbert Lom) and is forced to engage in a series of epic battles to prove his innocence and win back Chimene's love.

"El Cid" is known for its grand scale and epic battle sequences, including the famous scene where El Cid is seen riding into battle with his legendary sword Tizona. The film also explores themes of religious tolerance and the complexities of honor and duty.

Charlton Heston delivers a memorable performance as El Cid, and Sophia Loren adds depth and beauty to the character of Chimene. The film's production values are impressive, with elaborate costumes and sets that capture the grandeur of medieval Spain. "El Cid" remains a classic of the historical epic genre and is remembered for its epic storytelling and memorable characters..

About the poster artist:

Gilbert ("Georges") Allard (Oct. 15, 1916, Rouvray-Saint-Croix, France—Dec. 7, 2002, Saint-Evertin, France) was a leading French postwar and contemporary poster artist, active from the end of the 1940s through the 1960s.

He painted and signed more than eighty posters for films distributed in France. The French advertising agency Jacques Fourastié produced the majority of his posters.

He often differed from other French poster artists who used graphic elements since he preferred traditional painting techniques. As a result, he used fine brushwork to paint intricate, unexaggerated facial details while adding more dynamic features to the background images, which blended expertly with the key image. In combination, his poster art produced images of the film's essential theme.

An example of those style qualities can be seen in his poster for "Contempt" (aka "Le Mepris," (1963) with Brigitte Bardot, along with other posters, as in "Red River" (1948), "Baby Doll" (1956), and "Doctor Zhivago" (1965).

Search for "Allard" to see some of his other art.

Uploaded

February 7th, 2022

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