''The Postman Always Rings Twice'', 1946 - art by Boris Grinsson
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Postman Always Rings Twice'', 1946 - art by Boris Grinsson
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage movie poster of ''The Postman Always Rings Twice'', a 1946 film noir directed by Tay Garnett and based on the 1934 novel of the same name by James M. Cain. The film is known for its dark and atmospheric storytelling, as well as its complex characters and moral ambiguity. It stars Lana Turner, John Garfield, and Cecil Kellaway in the leading roles.
The film's plot revolves around Frank Chambers, portrayed by John Garfield, a drifter who arrives at a roadside diner and gas station owned by Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway) and his wife, Cora (Lana Turner). Frank quickly becomes entangled in a passionate and illicit affair with Cora, and the two characters conspire to murder Nick in hopes of inheriting the diner and starting a new life together.
As the plot unfolds, the film delves into themes of desire, betrayal, and moral consequences. The characters find themselves caught in a web of deceit and guilt as their actions lead to a series of unforeseen and tragic events. The title of the film itself, "The Postman Always Rings Twice," is a reference to the idea that fate and consequences are inevitable, much like the reliable presence of a postman.
"The Postman Always Rings Twice" is renowned for its moody and shadowy cinematography, which is a hallmark of film noir. The film captures the moral ambiguity of its characters, creating an atmosphere of tension and foreboding. Lana Turner delivers a standout performance as Cora, portraying a complex and conflicted character whose motivations are shrouded in mystery.
The film is celebrated for its exploration of the darker aspects of human nature, including the lengths people will go to for love and self-preservation. It is considered a classic in the film noir genre and has left a lasting impact on cinema, influencing subsequent crime and suspense films.
While "The Postman Always Rings Twice" has been adapted into other film versions and inspired numerous works in literature and film, the 1946 adaptation remains one of the most acclaimed and enduring interpretations of James M. Cain's gripping and morally complex story.
About the artist:
Boris Grinsson (1907, Pskov, Russia, - 1999, Paris) was a designer of Russian origin who lived and worked in France. For about 30 years of his career, from the 1940s to the 1970s, he painted more than 2000 posters for the French cinema circuit, becoming extremely popular among film directors.
After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Estonia, where the family moved to escape the Russian Revolution, the artist reached Berlin and enrolled in Decorative Arts. Grinsson immediately started working in cinema at the UFA studios in Balberg and soon began designing posters for the Paramount and MGM. He worked among the many directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Luis Buñuel, Billy Wilder, Alain Resnais, and Luchino Visconti.
His designs were also particularly controversial. In 1932 he drew a polemic caricature of Adolf Hitler. As a result, he was forced to move to Paris to escape the Nazi regime. Nevertheless, he continued to create the French versions of many famous movie posters in France.
Grinsson’s painting style for posters is characterized by his peculiar treatment of colors. If compared with the style of Italian designers, for example, his portraits appear somewhat schematic. Rather than using strong contrasts between light and shadow, Grinsson
modulated his figures with bold flat planes of colors and cool and defined outlines.
His posters often look like works of modern art rather than traditional sketches. Even the color palette is somewhat restricted, preferring different shades of yellows, greens, blues. However, the chromatic and formal restriction of Grinsson’s style is not to be seen as a limitation but as a legacy of the lithography technique that dominated German design until the early 1960s. A historical and peculiar element that distinguishes its very different and endless production.
Search “Grinsson” to see more of his art.
Uploaded
December 27th, 2021
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