''Knock on Any Door'', 1949 - art by Anselmo Ballester
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Knock on Any Door'', 1949 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage movie poster of ''Knock on Any Door'', a 1949 American film noir directed by Nicholas Ray. The film is known for its exploration of social issues and its examination of the challenges faced by troubled youth in a post-World War II America. Here's a brief description of the film:
Plot:
The story follows the life of Nick Romano, played by John Derek, a young man from a working-class neighborhood in New York City. Nick's upbringing is marked by poverty and a lack of opportunities. As a result, he becomes involved in a life of crime, ultimately leading to his arrest and trial for murder.
Nick's case is taken up by defense attorney Andrew Morton, portrayed by Humphrey Bogart. Morton is determined to save Nick from the death penalty and to understand the circumstances that led him down a criminal path. Through a series of flashbacks and courtroom scenes, the film delves into Nick's troubled upbringing and the societal factors that contributed to his choices.
The film explores themes of poverty, crime, social injustice, and the idea that society often fails to provide opportunities for young people to escape a life of crime. It raises questions about the responsibility of society and the justice system in addressing the root causes of criminal behavior.
Themes:
"Knock on Any Door" is a socially conscious film noir that highlights the challenges faced by disadvantaged youth and the role of the legal system in addressing these issues. It is known for its earnest portrayal of Nick's background and the efforts of his attorney to understand and mitigate the circumstances that led to his criminal activities.
Humphrey Bogart delivers a compelling performance as Andrew Morton, the defense attorney who is determined to save Nick from the death penalty. John Derek's portrayal of Nick Romano adds depth to the character, and the film's flashback structure allows viewers to empathize with his struggles.
The film's title, "Knock on Any Door," reflects its exploration of the idea that any young person, regardless of their background, could end up on a criminal path if society fails to address the root causes of crime.
"Knock on Any Door" is a notable entry in the film noir genre for its social commentary and its commitment to shedding light on the issues of its time.
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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September 21st, 2021
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