''The Alamo'', 1960 - base art by Reynold Brown
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Alamo'', 1960 - base art by Reynold Brown
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Painting - Movie Posters
Description
Base artwork for the vintage movie poster ''The Alamo", a 1960 American historical epic film directed and produced by John Wayne, who also stars in the lead role alongside Richard Widmark, Laurence Harvey, and others. The film recounts the events of the Battle of the Alamo, a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution against Mexico.
Set in 1836 during the Texas Revolution, "The Alamo" portrays the siege of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio by Mexican forces under the command of General Santa Anna. John Wayne stars as Davy Crockett, the legendary frontiersman and former congressman, who along with Colonel William Travis, portrayed by Laurence Harvey, and Jim Bowie, portrayed by Richard Widmark, leads a small group of Texan defenders in the Alamo against overwhelming odds.
The title "The Alamo" evokes the historic significance and enduring legacy of the battle, which has become a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and resilience in American history. It suggests a story of heroism, patriotism, and the struggle for freedom against tyranny.
"The Alamo" is characterized by its epic scale, grand production design, and sweeping battle sequences. The film's meticulous attention to historical detail, including its recreation of the Alamo compound and period costumes, immerses viewers in the sights and sounds of 19th-century Texas.
John Wayne's direction infuses the film with a sense of reverence and patriotism, celebrating the bravery and sacrifice of the Texan defenders while also highlighting the larger themes of freedom and independence. The performances, particularly those of Wayne, Harvey, and Widmark, are powerful and memorable, capturing the spirit of the historical figures they portray.
While "The Alamo" received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising its spectacle and performances while others criticizing its historical accuracy and narrative pacing, the film remains a classic of the historical epic genre. Its stirring depiction of one of America's most iconic battles continues to captivate audiences and inspire generations with its timeless tale of courage and sacrifice in the face of adversity.
Base art is the poster art after the text has been digitally removed.
About the artist:
William Reynold Brown (October 18, 1917 – August 24, 1991) was an American realist artist who painted around 250 Hollywood film posters. He was also briefly active as a comics artist and he worked as a technical artist at North American Aviation during World War II.
Following the war, Brown drew paperback book covers along with advertisements and illustrations for numerous magazines including Argosy, Popular Science, Saturday Evening Post, Boys' Life, Outdoor Life, and Popular Aviation.
Brown taught at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles before he started creating film posters. Among the dozens he designed was an original painting for The Alamo, which hung for years at the actual Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. Some of his other well-known posters at the time included How the West Was Won, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Dr. Zhivago, Ben Hur, Spartacus, Mutiny on the Bounty, and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Today, he is best remembered for his posters for The Creature From the Black Lagoon and the cult classic Attack of the 50-Foot Woman.
Brown's posters imparted a sense of cinematic adventure to movie theater lobbies across the country. The posters became popular due to his ability to portray movie scenes using a dramatic collage effect. Unlike earlier poster designers, he based his illustrations and compositions not on traditional graphic design but on the dynamic nature of popular filmmaking.
Although his posters were widely recognized and contributed to the success of many popular films, Brown, like other movie poster artists, was contracted to maintain his anonymity and could not sign his work.
In 1953, Brown cofounded the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. He suffered a stroke in 1976, after which he spent the remaining years of his life on a 180-acre plot of land in Nebraska.
In 1994, a documentary about Brown was broadcast on television, titled The Man Who Drew Bug-Eyed Monsters. In addition, a book with many of his artworks was published in 2009, “Reynold Brown: A Life in Pictures.” According to a movie reviewer in Nebraska, as a result of the documentary, Brown and his colleagues are beginning to get the recognition they deserve, not only as talented artists but for their broader impact on popular culture.
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October 15th, 2022
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