''Surprise Package'', 1960 - art by George Kerfyser
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Surprise Package'', 1960 - art by George Kerfyser
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Franch movie poster of ''Surprise Package'', a comedy film released in 1960, directed by Stanley Donen and starring Yul Brynner, Mitzi Gaynor, and Noël Coward. The film combines elements of comedy, romance, and espionage in an entertaining and lighthearted way.
The story revolves around the character of Nico March, played by Yul Brynner, who is a charming and suave French jewel thief. He finds himself in a tight spot when he accidentally steals some top-secret NATO microfilm during a heist. To escape capture by the authorities, he hides the microfilm in a seemingly innocuous package.
The package ends up in the hands of Patricia, played by Mitzi Gaynor, an American tourist who is traveling through Europe. Patricia is completely unaware of the valuable contents of the package and is simply trying to enjoy her vacation. However, she becomes the target of various parties who are all after the microfilm, including Nico, the authorities, and a group of international spies.
As the story unfolds, Patricia and Nico find themselves embroiled in a series of comedic misadventures, with romantic sparks flying between them despite their initial adversarial relationship. They must navigate the dangerous world of espionage while trying to outsmart their pursuers and protect the valuable microfilm.
"Surprise Package" is known for its witty humor, stylish 1960s settings, and the charismatic performances of its lead actors, particularly Yul Brynner and Mitzi Gaynor. The film offers a blend of action, comedy, and romance, making it an enjoyable and entertaining watch for fans of classic cinema from that era.
About the artist:
George Kerfyser (1923 Paris, France–2001 Sisteron, France) was a leading French movie poster designer.
With a talent early in his life for drawing and painting, he studied art at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. After graduation, he began getting commissions to design movie posters. His style and technical ability caught the attention of leading film studios in France. As a result, he became the Artistic Director at Columbia Pictures. He designed a number of their posters for major films, including "Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) and "Lawrence of Arabia" (1963).
Kerfyser's use of colors gives a distinct, recognizable impression. The backgrounds are not crowded with scenes and characters but essential and straightforward. They are characterized by plain uniformly spread colors. Blues, azures, greens, occasionally grays, and reds compose a mosaic of colors in wonderfully cool tones.
Among the characteristics of his style was its versatility, using a variety of designs and techniques he felt were appropriate for the type of film. He also used solid colors running to the edges of his posters. In addition, he made unique typography or hand lettering a central feature.
The characters created by Kerfyser stand out against these colored backgrounds. They often contrast figures with marked outlines, black and evocative in their sometimes realistic, sometimes caricatured style. The modernity of Kerfyser's posters is palpable: they seem like unique covers of contemporary graphic novels.
In his later years, he worked with the Cannes film festival, helping it organize events.
Search "Kerfyser" to see more of his art.
Uploaded
January 27th, 2022
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