''I Ought to Be In Pictures'', 1982 - art by Jano

by Movie World Posters

Title

''I Ought to Be In Pictures'', 1982 - art by Jano

Artist

Movie World Posters

Medium

Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster

Description

A vintage movie poster from Spain of ''I Ought to Be In Pictures'', a comedy-drama film released in 1982, directed by Herbert Ross and based on the Neil Simon play of the same name. The film stars Ann-Margret, Walter Matthau, and Dinah Manoff in the lead roles.

The story revolves around Herb Tucker (Walter Matthau), a washed-up screenwriter living in Hollywood who has seen better days in his career. Herb is struggling with writer's block and is also estranged from his family. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when his long-lost daughter, Libby (Ann-Margret), shows up on his doorstep. Libby, a young aspiring actress, has run away from her home in New York in search of her absent father, hoping he can help her pursue her dreams in Hollywood.

The film explores the complex and humorous dynamics between Herb, Libby, and Steffy (Dinah Manoff), Herb's live-in girlfriend, who isn't thrilled about Libby's arrival. As Herb tries to reconnect with his daughter and support her ambitions, he also faces the challenge of reconciling with his own past mistakes and shortcomings as a father.

"I Ought to Be in Pictures" is a heartfelt and often humorous exploration of family relationships, personal growth, and the pursuit of one's dreams. Walter Matthau's performance as the grumpy but endearing Herb and Ann-Margret's portrayal of the determined and spirited Libby received critical acclaim. The film touches on themes of redemption and second chances, and it combines comedy with poignant moments to create an engaging and memorable story.

Overall, "I Ought to Be in Pictures" is a character-driven film that showcases the talents of its lead actors and offers a touching and relatable exploration of family and ambition in the world of Hollywood.

About the artist:

Francisco Fernández-Zarza Pérez (1922, Madrid – May 12, 1992), better known as "Jano," was a Spanish film poster artist, one of the most highly regarded of his time along with Soligó and Macario Quibus, aka "Mac."

The large number of artworks created by Fernando Zarza, known as "Jano," makes it complex to define the unitary aspects of his style. Lively, dynamic, and with intricate compositions, Jano is one of the favorite designers in the panorama of Spanish cinema. He created movie posters that are realistic and photographic and others more caricatured; he realized sensual female portraits but also conceptual images, characterized by few elements and characters.

What strikes you when you look at one of his works is the feeling of movement, dynamism, the vitality of his compositions. Scenes, settings, and protagonists fit together following different directives and vanishing points. The chaos of elements and colors makes Jano's posters a loud set of faces. But in this chaos, there is life, true action.

During the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939, Jano worked as an illustrator for Republican magazines, which caused him to be imprisoned. In the 1950s, he worked as a comic book cover artist for publishers such as "Dollar." However, his skill in film advertising made him the preferred poster artist for many Spanish studios.

In 2006, Montserrat published a book featuring 221 actors painted by Jano. In 2014, an exhibition was held in his honor titled "Jano Movie Faces, 20 Posters to Remember". He also taught painting courses at the University of Madrid.

Search "Jano" to see other art.

Uploaded

January 29th, 2022

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