''Last of the Comanches'', 1953 - art by Anselmo Ballester
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Last of the Comanches'', 1953 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''Last of the Comanches'', a Western film released in 1953, directed by André De Toth. The film is also known as "The Last Tomahawk" in some regions. It is a classic example of the Western genre, featuring elements of action, adventure, and conflict between Native Americans and settlers.
The story is set in the aftermath of the American Civil War and follows a group of Union soldiers who are attempting to return to their homes in Texas. Led by Captain Lance Caldwell, played by Broderick Crawford, the soldiers become trapped behind Comanche territory lines after a failed attempt to reach their destination. They are surrounded by hostile Comanche warriors and must rely on their survival instincts and military training to make it out alive.
As the soldiers face the harsh realities of their predicament, they form a bond and develop a deeper understanding of the challenges of frontier life. The film explores themes of bravery, camaraderie, and the clash of cultures between Native Americans and white settlers.
"Last of the Comanches" features action-packed sequences, including intense battles with the Comanches and daring escapes. The film's portrayal of the Comanche tribe reflects the era's prevailing stereotypes about Native Americans in Western cinema.
While the film may not be as well-known as some other Western classics of its time, it remains a representative example of the genre, offering audiences a glimpse into the challenges and adventures faced by settlers and soldiers on the American frontier. The film's action and suspenseful storytelling contribute to its status as a notable entry in the Western film tradition of the 1950s.
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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December 26th, 2021
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