''The Return of Frank James'', 1940, movie poster painting by Heinz Bonne
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Return of Frank James'', 1940, movie poster painting by Heinz Bonne
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Painting - Movie Posters
Description
Base painting of the vintage movie poster for ''The Return of Frank James'', a 1940 Western film directed by Fritz Lang. It is a sequel to the 1939 film "Jesse James," with Henry Fonda reprising his role as Frank James, and Gene Tierney appearing as a new character. The film continues the story of the James brothers, focusing on Frank James' quest for justice and revenge.
The film opens with Frank James, the famous outlaw and brother of Jesse James, attempting to live a peaceful life on a farm after Jesse's death. However, when Frank's brother is killed by a member of the Ford gang, he sets out on a mission of vengeance. Along the way, he encounters Eleanor Stone (Gene Tierney), a sympathetic woman who becomes entangled in his pursuit of justice.
"The Return of Frank James" is a classic Western that explores themes of justice, revenge, and the moral complexities of the Old West. Frank James' character undergoes a transformation from a reformed outlaw to a man seeking justice for his brother's murder.
Henry Fonda delivers a stoic and compelling performance as Frank James, portraying the character's determination and inner conflict. Gene Tierney adds depth to the film as Eleanor Stone, offering a sympathetic and conflicted presence in the midst of the revenge-driven narrative.
Fritz Lang's direction emphasizes the film's action sequences and dramatic tension, making it a gripping Western with elements of both vengeance and redemption.
While "The Return of Frank James" may not be as celebrated as some other Western classics, it remains a solid and engaging entry in the genre, continuing the story of the infamous James brothers and their pursuit of justice in the lawless American frontier.
Base art is the poster artwork after the text has been digitally removed.
About the artist:
Born in Leipzig, Germany, Heinz Bonné was a professional graphic designer, painter, and film poster artist in the 1930s.
After studying at the Academy of Graphic Arts in 1932, he opened his own studio. He painted the poster for Marlene Dietrich's first sound film, "The Blue Angel" (1930), and created German version posters for numerous Laurel and Hardy films.
In 1935, he began managing the UFA studios in Leipzig. However, his work was put on hold from 1940 to 1945, when he was drafted into the Wehrmacht. After the war, he moved back to Leipzig and worked on film advertising for DEFA and Sovexport-Film, before moving to West Germany in 1950. There he painted the artwork and designed for numerous American films, including "An American in Paris" (1951) and "High Society" (1956).
Bonne creates posters that blend precision and sketch, reality and imagination. His characters look like realistic portrait drafts, carefully drawn against backgrounds of pure color. Quick, impressionistic watercolor touches, as if trying to find the perfect color on the palette.
In reality, the colors chosen by the artist are extremely coordinated with the figures in the foreground: reds, browns, greens, are repeated in the backgrounds and in the sometimes-monochromatic choice of the protagonists. Bonne creates careful posters, even in the use of light and tonality. However, he makes them appear light and spontaneous as if they were created effortlessly.
Search "Bonne" to see more of his art.
Uploaded
November 2nd, 2022
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