''Phantom of the Rue Morgue'', 2 1954 - art by Luigi Martinati
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Phantom of the Rue Morgue'', 2 1954 - art by Luigi Martinati
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''Phantom of the Rue Morgue'', a 1954 American horror film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Karl Malden. The movie is a loose adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," which is considered one of the earliest examples of the detective fiction genre. However, this film takes a more sensationalistic and horror-oriented approach to the source material.
The plot revolves around a series of gruesome murders that occur in Paris, France. The victims are all young women who are found with their throats slashed in a manner that suggests a savage and animalistic attacker. The police are baffled by the nature of these killings and struggle to find any leads.
Karl Malden plays Dr. Marais, a dedicated scientist who becomes involved in the investigation. He is drawn to the case because he believes that the murders may be linked to his experiments with primates, particularly his attempts to communicate with an intelligent ape named Erik. Dr. Marais becomes convinced that Erik may be responsible for the murders, as he suspects the ape has been trained to carry out these gruesome acts.
As the investigation unfolds, Dr. Marais finds himself in a race against time to prove Erik's guilt and prevent further bloodshed. The film explores themes of science gone awry, the dark side of human nature, and the pursuit of knowledge at any cost.
"Phantom of the Rue Morgue" is notable for its atmospheric and gothic cinematography, which creates a sense of suspense and tension throughout the movie. While it takes inspiration from Poe's story, it deviates significantly from the original narrative, emphasizing horror and sensationalism over the detective elements of the source material.
Overall, "Phantom of the Rue Morgue" is a 1950s horror film that combines elements of murder mystery, science fiction, and Gothic horror, with Karl Malden delivering a memorable performance as the scientist caught up in a series of gruesome murders. It is an intriguing addition to the era's horror cinema and a unique take on Poe's classic tale.
About the poster artist:
Luigi Martinati (1893-1983), born in Florence, Italy, on Dec. 31, 1893, was a significant Italian illustrator and painter. He spent most of his career creating artwork for film posters.
While growing up in Florence, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts, then moved to Rome in 1911 when he was 18. There, he worked as an apprentice for film poster artist Federico Ballester (1868-1926), the father of Anselmo Ballester, who also became a poster artist.
Between 1923 and 1941, he devoted himself to advertising illustration. He designed posters of various subjects and themes, from commercial advertising billboards to tourist signs to political posters to significant celebratory events.
He later became the director of IGAP (Impresa Generale Affissioni PubblicitĂ ), a leading advertising agency in Rome. In that role, he began collaborating with various film companies, primarily Warner Brothers studios. Soon after World War II, the advertising sector became dedicated exclusively to movie illustrations.
In the mid-1940s, he teamed up with two other painters of Italian film posters, Anselmo Ballester and Alfredo Capitani. Together, they founded BCM studio (using letters from their surnames) and dedicated their efforts exclusively to producing film posters.
Martinati's images typically invoked robust realism. His style was characterized by a foreground depicting a large portrait with a minor scene in the background. He also stands out for his technique, which focused on the strength of the subjects without lingering on details and particulars. The heroes of Martinati posters are realistic and believable, with few exaggerated expressions or poses..
In 1959, he cut back on his partnership with Warner Brothers and other film production and distribution companies. By 1967, he discontinued his successful career as a film poster artist to work primarily as an easel painter.
He died in Rome in 1983 at the age of 90.
To see some of his other posters, enter his last name in the search.
Uploaded
February 6th, 2022
Embed
Share
Comments
There are no comments for ''Phantom of the Rue Morgue'', 2 1954 - art by Luigi Martinati. Click here to post the first comment.