''The Barefoot Contessa'', 1954 - art by Rolf Goetze, after Harold Seroy
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Barefoot Contessa'', 1954 - art by Rolf Goetze, after Harold Seroy
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage French movie poster of ''The Barefoot Contessa'', a 1954 drama film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, and Edmond O'Brien. The film is known for its exploration of the glamorous and often tumultuous world of Hollywood and the price of fame.
The story revolves around Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner), a Spanish dancer who rises from humble beginnings to become an international movie star. Harry Dawes (Humphrey Bogart) is a down-on-his-luck filmmaker who discovers Maria while she's dancing in a nightclub in Madrid. Impressed by her talent and beauty, he convinces her to come to Hollywood and make a film.
As Maria becomes a sensation in Hollywood, she quickly rises to fame, but her journey is fraught with the challenges and pitfalls of stardom. She attracts the attention of wealthy playboy Kirk Edwards (Warren Stevens) and the obsessive PR agent Oscar Muldoon (Edmond O'Brien), both of whom become entangled in her life. The film explores the price Maria pays for her success and the complex relationships she forms along the way.
"The Barefoot Contessa" is a character-driven drama that delves into the personal lives and ambitions of its protagonists. It's a tale of love, jealousy, ambition, and the sacrifices that come with achieving stardom in the entertainment industry. The film is known for its strong performances, particularly Ava Gardner's portrayal of the titular character, and it provides a critical look at the glamour and superficiality of Hollywood while examining the personal struggles of its characters.
The movie received critical acclaim upon its release and earned Academy Award nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Ava Gardner) and Best Supporting Actor (Edmond O'Brien), with O'Brien winning the Oscar for his performance as the obsessive PR agent. "The Barefoot Contessa" is considered a classic of the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema and is remembered for its exploration of the complexities of fame and the price of success in the entertainment industry.
About the poster artist:
Rolf Goetze was a German illustrator and painter who painted film poster art for about 30 years. His early works began in the 1930s, when he did a number of posters for Greta Garbo films, including "Queen Christina" (1934), "Anna Karenina" (1935), and "Camille" (1936). He continued creating German poster artwork of mostly American films through the 1960s.
From a stylistic point of view, Goetze's posters are characterized by a great compositional structure; the German designer was capable of blending incredibly realistic, close-up portraits, with elaborate scenes in the background. An undisputed master of portraiture, Goetze created numerous posters using monochrome, black and white, or sepia palettes. His posters look like realistic, vivid charcoal drawings. They are able to represent faces and expressions of their protagonists, as mirrors faithful to reality.
The original artwork used for this design was on the U.S. poster by Harold Seroy.
Uploaded
February 3rd, 2022
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