''The Killers'', 1946 - art by Kurt Wenzel
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Killers'', 1946 - art by Kurt Wenzel
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Danish movie poster of ''The Killers'', a 1946 film noir directed by Robert Siodmak and based on a short story of the same name by Ernest Hemingway. This classic film is known for its stylish cinematography, intriguing storyline, and memorable performances.
Plot:
The movie revolves around a man named Ole "Swede" Andreson, played by Burt Lancaster in his film debut. The story begins with two hitmen, played by William Conrad and Charles McGraw, arriving in a small town to kill Swede. However, Swede offers no resistance and calmly accepts his fate. Before they carry out the hit, the hitmen are puzzled by Swede's apparent indifference and decide to investigate why he didn't try to escape.
Through a series of flashbacks, the film explores Swede's past and the events that led to his current situation. We learn that Swede was a former boxer who became entangled with a dangerous gangster named Big Jim Colfax, portrayed by Albert Dekker. Swede's association with Colfax leads to a life of crime and betrayal, as he becomes involved in a heist that goes wrong.
Lancaster's character is also linked to a beautiful and mysterious woman named Kitty Collins, played by Ava Gardner. Kitty is at the center of much of the film's intrigue, and her role in Swede's downfall is gradually revealed.
As the investigation into Swede's past unfolds, the audience is drawn deeper into a web of deception, betrayal, and crime. The film keeps viewers guessing about the true motivations behind Swede's apparent surrender and the identity of those responsible for his impending death.
Themes:
"The Killers" explores themes common to film noir, such as fate, moral ambiguity, and the consequences of one's choices. It also delves into the idea of past sins catching up with the characters and the dark allure of a criminal lifestyle.
Legacy:
The 1946 version of "The Killers" is considered a classic of film noir and is known for its atmospheric lighting, distinctive visual style, and a strong sense of fatalism. The film's structure, with its use of flashbacks to piece together the narrative, was innovative for its time and influenced many later crime films. Burt Lancaster's performance as Swede helped launch his career as a leading actor in Hollywood.
In addition to the 1946 version, "The Killers" has been remade several times for film and television, but the original remains a standout in the genre. It continues to be celebrated by film enthusiasts and is regarded as a quintessential example of the film noir genre.
About the artist:
Kurt Wenzel (1899 - 1996) was a Danish movie poster artist who designed posters between the early 1940s and the mid-1970s.
Kurt Wenzel’s posters all share an eye-catching graphic style: defined lines and shapes, refined typographical characters of the titles, high and accentuated contrast of lights and shadows. The outlines of his figures are always drawn with sharp lines, almost as if they were traditional etchings.
In fact, like through ancient printmaking techniques, Wenzel obtains shapes with bold lines, fascinating for their simplicity and crispness. Wenzel’s artworks are characterized by an intense black component and a color palette in shades of gray and smoky colors. He also focuses on creative typography, frequently placing film titles at the top, like covers of an adventurous book.
Search "Wenzel" for other art.
Uploaded
January 25th, 2022
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Viewed 541 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/21/2024 at 8:12 PM
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