''Porgy and Bess'', 1959 - art by Bruno Rehak

by Movie World Posters

Title

''Porgy and Bess'', 1959 - art by Bruno Rehak

Artist

Movie World Posters

Medium

Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster

Description

A vintage movie poster of ''Porgy and Bess'', a 1959 American musical film directed by Otto Preminger. It is an adaptation of the 1935 opera of the same name by George Gershwin, which itself is based on the novel "Porgy" by DuBose Heyward and a play by Heyward and his wife Dorothy. The film stars Sidney Poitier as Porgy, Dorothy Dandridge as Bess, Sammy Davis Jr. as Sportin' Life, Brock Peters as Crown, and Pearl Bailey as Maria.

Set in the fictional Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina, the story revolves around Porgy, a disabled black street beggar who falls in love with Bess, a troubled woman struggling with addiction and her abusive relationship with Crown, a violent and possessive man. The story is a complex exploration of love, race, and poverty in the early 20th-century American South.

The film is notable for its music, featuring classic Gershwin compositions like "Summertime," "It Ain't Necessarily So," and "I Loves You, Porgy." These songs blend elements of jazz, classical, and traditional African American folk music. The performances, particularly those of Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge, are widely praised for their depth and emotional resonance.

However, "Porgy and Bess" was also controversial. While it was groundbreaking in its representation of African American characters and its use of an entirely African American leading cast in a major Hollywood film, it faced criticism for its portrayal of racial stereotypes and the romanticization of poverty. Additionally, the voice dubbing for the singing parts (except for Sammy Davis Jr. and Pearl Bailey) was a point of contention, as it detracted from the authenticity of the performances.

The film's production design and use of Technicolor are also notable, creating a vibrant and immersive depiction of the setting. Despite the controversies, "Porgy and Bess" remains an important film in the history of American cinema, remembered for its music, performances, and as a reflection of its time's social and cultural complexities.

About the artist:

Bruno Rehak (1910–1977) was a German painter and graphic artist. After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague in 1935, he began painting and designing movie posters.

Rehak's style in his movie posters is variegated and eclectic, capable of combining different influences and attitudes. During his career, Rehak created posters with a hyper-realistic style, extremely detailed portraits, and others more similar to vignettes and caricatures. He pays enormous attention to the representation of emotions and feelings in the faces of the protagonists, making his work particularly expressive.

Rehak also created titles with appealing graphics. They were capable of restoring, with typography, the mood of the cinematographic masterpiece they advertised.

Search for "Rehak" to see his other works.

Uploaded

January 20th, 2022

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