''The Story of Esther Costello'', 1957 - art by George Kerfyser
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Story of Esther Costello'', 1957 - art by George Kerfyser
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage French movie poster of ''The Story of Esther Costello'', a 1957 drama film directed by David Miller and starring Joan Crawford in one of her later film roles. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Monsarrat. It tells the story of Esther Costello, a young deaf and blind girl who becomes the focus of attention for a wealthy philanthropist and a charismatic but unscrupulous faith healer.
The plot revolves around Esther, played by Heather Sears, who is left both deaf and blind after a traumatic childhood accident. Her mother, Margaret Landi, played by Joan Crawford, is a struggling single mother who is unable to provide the necessary care and education for Esther. However, Esther's life takes a turn when Margaret meets and befriends a wealthy philanthropist named Mr. Jennings, portrayed by Rossano Brazzi. Jennings becomes deeply moved by Esther's plight and decides to provide her with the best possible education and care.
Esther's life improves significantly under Mr. Jennings' care, and she begins to learn how to communicate using a tactile sign language. However, complications arise when a charismatic and unscrupulous faith healer named Paul Vicola, played by Lee Patterson, enters their lives. Vicola convinces both Esther and Mr. Jennings that he can perform miraculous healings, leading to a moral and ethical dilemma for those around Esther.
The film explores themes of exploitation, faith, and the ethics of using a disabled child for personal gain. Joan Crawford's performance as Esther's mother, Margaret Landi, is considered one of the standout aspects of the film. "The Story of Esther Costello" is known for its emotional and thought-provoking narrative, and it offers a dramatic portrayal of the challenges faced by a young girl with disabilities and those who care for her.
Overall, "The Story of Esther Costello" is a compelling drama that delves into complex moral and ethical questions while showcasing Joan Crawford's talents in one of her later film roles.
About the poster artist:
George Kerfyser (1923 Paris, France–2001 Sisteron, France) was a leading French movie poster designer.
With a talent early in his life for drawing and painting, he studied art at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. After graduation, he began getting commissions to design movie posters. His style and technical ability caught the attention of leading film studios in France. As a result, he became the Artistic Director at Columbia Pictures. He designed a number of their posters for major films, including "Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) and "Lawrence of Arabia" (1963).
Kerfyser's use of colors gives a distinct, recognizable impression. The backgrounds are not crowded with scenes and characters but essential and straightforward. They are characterized by plain uniformly spread colors. Blues, azures, greens, occasionally grays, and reds compose a mosaic of colors in wonderfully cool tones.
Among the characteristics of his style was its versatility, using a variety of designs and techniques he felt were appropriate for the type of film. He also used solid colors running to the edges of his posters. In addition, he made unique typography or hand lettering a central feature.
The characters created by Kerfyser stand out against these colored backgrounds. They often contrast figures with marked outlines, black and evocative in their sometimes realistic, sometimes caricatured style. The modernity of Kerfyser's posters is palpable: they seem like unique covers of contemporary graphic novels.
In his later years, he worked with the Cannes film festival, helping it organize events.
Search "Kerfyser" to see more of his art.
Uploaded
February 6th, 2022
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