''The Petrified Forest'', 1936, movie poster painting by Luigi Martinati
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Petrified Forest'', 1936, movie poster painting by Luigi Martinati
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Painting - Movie Posters
Description
Base painting of the vintage movie poster for ''The Petrified Forest'', a 1936 American drama film directed by Archie Mayo, featuring Bette Davis and Leslie Howard in leading roles. Based on the 1935 play by Robert E. Sherwood, the film is set in a remote diner in the Arizona desert, where a diverse group of characters find themselves drawn together by fate and circumstance.
Leslie Howard stars as Alan Squier, a disillusioned drifter and failed writer who finds himself stranded at the isolated diner owned by Jason Maple, played by Porter Hall. Bette Davis portrays Gabrielle Maple, Jason's daughter, who dreams of escaping her stifling existence in the desert and pursuing a life of adventure and excitement.
As the characters converge at the diner, tensions simmer and conflicts arise, culminating in a tense standoff with Duke Mantee, a notorious gangster on the run from the law, played by Humphrey Bogart in a breakout role. Over the course of a single evening, the characters grapple with questions of identity, destiny, and the nature of freedom, as they confront the harsh realities of life in the desert.
"The Petrified Forest" is praised for its compelling characters, sharp dialogue, and evocative atmosphere. Leslie Howard delivers a poignant and introspective performance as Alan Squier, capturing the character's sense of world-weariness and existential angst with sensitivity and depth. Bette Davis shines as Gabrielle Maple, infusing her character with a mixture of vulnerability and determination that resonates with audiences.
Directed by Archie Mayo, "The Petrified Forest" is a powerful and thought-provoking drama that explores themes of disillusionment, longing, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with uncertainty. With its stellar performances, taut pacing, and richly drawn characters, the film remains a timeless classic of American cinema, cherished for its emotional resonance and enduring relevance.
Base art is the poster artwork after the text has been digitally removed.
About the artist:
Luigi Martinati (1893-1983), born in Florence, Italy, on Dec. 31, 1893, was a significant Italian illustrator and painter. He spent most of his career creating artwork for film posters.
While growing up in Florence, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts, then moved to Rome in 1911 when he was 18. There, he worked as an apprentice for film poster artist Federico Ballester (1868-1926), the father of Anselmo Ballester, who also became a poster artist.
Between 1923 and 1941, he devoted himself to advertising illustration. He designed posters of various subjects and themes, from commercial advertising billboards to tourist signs to political posters to significant celebratory events.
He later became the director of IGAP (Impresa Generale Affissioni PubblicitĂ ), a leading advertising agency in Rome. In that role, he began collaborating with various film companies, primarily Warner Brothers studios. Soon after World War II, the advertising sector became dedicated exclusively to movie illustrations.
In the mid-1940s, he teamed up with two other painters of Italian film posters, Anselmo Ballester and Alfredo Capitani. Together, they founded BCM studio (using letters from their surnames) and dedicated their efforts exclusively to producing film posters.
Martinati's images typically invoked robust realism. His style was characterized by a foreground depicting a large portrait with a minor scene in the background. He also stands out for his technique, which focused on the strength of the subjects without lingering on details and particulars. The heroes of Martinati posters are realistic and believable, with few exaggerated expressions or poses.
In 1959, he cut back on his partnership with Warner Brothers and other film production and distribution companies. By 1967, he discontinued his successful career as a film poster artist to work primarily as an easel painter.
He died in Rome in 1983 at the age of 90.
Uploaded
October 22nd, 2022
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