''The Long Haul'', 1957 - art by Anselmo Ballester
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Long Haul'', 1957 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''The Long Haul'', a British-American film released in 1957, directed by Ken Hughes and starring Victor Mature in the lead role. The movie is a classic example of the British crime drama genre popular during that era.
Plot Summary:
The story revolves around Harry Miller, played by Victor Mature, a truck driver from the United States who is now working in England. Harry is a hardworking and dependable man who takes his job seriously. He drives long distances, transporting goods and freight across the British countryside.
However, Harry's life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes embroiled in a criminal scheme. He is coerced into smuggling contraband goods by a group of criminals who threaten him and his family. Harry finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to protect his loved ones while also navigating the dangerous world of illegal activities.
As the tension escalates, Harry must make difficult choices and face various challenges, including law enforcement authorities who are closing in on the criminal operation. The film explores themes of morality, loyalty, and the consequences of getting involved in criminal activities.
Victor Mature delivers a strong performance as the hardworking and morally conflicted truck driver, and the film captures the atmosphere of post-war Britain, where black-market activities were not uncommon.
"The Long Haul" is notable for its gritty portrayal of the trucking industry and the criminal underworld, and it provides a glimpse into the challenges and temptations faced by individuals trying to make an honest living in a tough environment.
While not as well-known as some other films of its era, "The Long Haul" remains a noteworthy entry in the filmography of Victor Mature and a representation of the crime drama genre prevalent in the 1950s.
About the poster artist:
Anselmo Ballester (1897–1974) was a noted Italian painter and film poster designer from Rome. He was the son of Federico Ballester (Rome, 1868–1926), a painter of Spanish origins. Inspired by his father's artistic endeavors growing up, Anselmo completed his first works at 15.
After attending the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, he specialized in film advertising for the most important silent film production houses. He created posters and other advertising material for CINES, Caesar Film, and numerous other studios.
In his studio in Rome, via della Croce 50a (then via della Passeggiata Ripetta 19), he spent almost 50 years creating thousands of sketches for playbills and paintings for film posters. He went on to form the design company BCM along with two other prominent Italian poster artists, Alfredo Capitani and Luigi Martinati
The movie posters Ballester created between the 1930s and 1950s showcased his unique painting style using tempera medium and bold colors. They typically featured one or two significant characters. His style is reminiscent of pulp fiction covers and, like the best cinema advertisements, were infused with intrigue, conflict, and passion. His works were uncomplicated yet rich in detail, a techniqe and style he himself describes:
"To become a creator of film posters ... it is necessary to study passionately, always to draw and paint everything from the truth. Then you can let your imagination run free. Whether you are creating a work of art, or a more humble advertising poster, you must be able to attract the interest of the public, to satisfy both the most refined people and the roughest, who are the majority."
From a stylistic and compositional point of view, Alfredo Ballester began by drawing inspiration from the advertising posters of Art Nouveau, and then he defined his personal code. The painter exhibited a common layout in his movie posters: the actor or actress beautifully portrayed in the foreground, and one or two scenes from the film in the background.
To achieve this result, he used a methodical technique, making numerous sketches of the project only after having the best two selected by the client, he devoted himself to the final painting, strictly handmade.
Ballester's color palette, however, was his greatest talent. The artist used colors expressively, as a tool to convey emotions. The portraits of the stars were extremely realistic but often colored with unnatural hues such as pinks or intense light blues. Ballester illustrated his characters with colors capable of conveying the range of feelings transmitted by the film.
He was written about in "Anselmo Ballester: the Origins of the Film Poster," published by the University of Parma, Study Center and Communication Archive in 1981. In addition, Dave Kerr made extensive use of his images in his 2003 book, "Italian Film Posters, "published by The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Permanent collections of his work are displayed at the University of Parma, Communication Studies Center and Archive (CSAC) and the Cinema Museum in Brush, Montecosaro.
To see more of his posters search by his last name.
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February 2nd, 2022
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