''Rock Rock Rock'', 1956 - art by Luigi Martinati
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Rock Rock Rock'', 1956 - art by Luigi Martinati
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''Rock Rock Rock!'', a 1956 musical film directed by Will Price, with Alan Freed, a popular radio disc jockey at the time, making an appearance in the film. The movie is notable for its focus on the emerging rock and roll music genre, which was gaining immense popularity in the mid-1950s.
The film's plot revolves around a teenage girl named Dori Graham, played by Tuesday Weld, who needs to raise money for a prom dress. To do so, she decides to enter a talent contest at her school's dance, with the grand prize being the money she needs. Throughout the film, Dori faces various challenges and obstacles in her quest to win the contest.
"Rock, Rock, Rock!" is particularly famous for its musical performances, featuring several prominent artists and groups of the era, such as Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Johnny Burnette, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, and The Moonglows. The film showcases these artists performing some of their popular songs, which contributed to its appeal among fans of rock and roll music.
Although the film's plot may be relatively simple, it serves as a vehicle to showcase the music and talent of the era's rock and roll stars. "Rock, Rock, Rock!" is considered a significant cultural artifact of the time, capturing the excitement and energy of the burgeoning rock and roll movement in the 1950s. Alan Freed's appearance in the film as himself also adds to its historical significance, as he played a crucial role in promoting and popularizing rock and roll music through his radio shows and live events.
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
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