Original Movie Poster Paintings collection

[Mr Trent]

Hi, everyone

New member Terry Doyle, here.  I started collecting original paintings, used in the process of creating front-of-house UK quad poster designs, early last year.  I currently own 12 original paintings, with a further 3 due to reach me next week.

I'll be posting my stuff in due course, but first up here's the original Tom Chantrell painting used for the UK release of the multi-Oscar-winning 1970 movie, 'Patton Lust For Glory'.

Patton was a 1970 American epic biographical war film about U.S. General George S. Patton during World War II. It starred George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Bates and Karl Michael Vogler. It was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner from a -script by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North, who based their screenplay on the biography Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago and Omar Bradley's memoir A Soldier's Story. The film was shot in 65mm Dimension 150 by cinematographer Fred J. Koenekamp and had a music score by Jerry Goldsmith.
 
Patton won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
 
The opening monologue, delivered by George C. Scott as General Patton with an enormous American flag behind him, remains an iconic and often quoted image in film. The film was successful and, in 2003, Patton was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.

[Mr Trent]

I bought all but one of my paintings directly from UK dealer, Mike Bloomfield.  Nice, friendly and efficient type of guy, who always answers my e-mail questions and is easy to deal with.

[Mr Trent]

Next up . . . from the famous British movie production company, Hammer Films, notable for its revival of the Horror genre towards the end of the 1950s, comes this super-rare example of a peak-period 1966 Movie Poster original painting by the company's favoured artist, Tom Chantrell.

RASPUTIN, THE MAD MONK 1966 (uncensored) movie poster painting by Tom Chantrell
 
"The life story of the legendary Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin gets the highly fictionalized Hammer Films treatment with this liberal mix of horror and history that presents the mysterious sage as a demonic, otherworldly creature. Christopher Lee stars as the titular monk, who gains entrée to the world of the tsar by casting a hypnotic spell on two courtiers, Dr. Zargo (Richard Pasco) and the beautiful Sonia (Barbara Shelley). Becoming a trusted aide and confidant of the tsarina (Renee Ashershon), Rasputin threatens the national power structure. After Sonia kills herself, Zargo resolves to kill the interloper, but stabbing, poisoning, and even bullets don't seem to be able to kill the diabolical Rasputin."

With an image size measuring approximately 16" x 23.5", this is the uncensored painting that was presented to Hammer Films to spearhead its cinema front-of-house advertising campaign . Revisions on Chantrell's artwork were requested. The small vignettes, running along the bottom of the painting, were deemed too risqué (as one features a rape scene) and the figures of Rasputin and Sonia were reduced in size (and colour changed to green to complement the Monk's face at right) with new title lettering re-positioned to the upper left.
 
The changes for the censored poster release were executed by Chantrell utilizing stats taken directly from his original painting (see underneath for printed version).

Some years later, when the movie was re-released as a double-bill with 'The Reptile', the Rasputin and Sonia figures at left were re-instated in colour at a smaller scale (see underneath) to form half of the new poster.

[Mr Trent]

Vic Fair prototype artwork for the highly-regarded 1981 movie, THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN

“Actors Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons, Hilton McRae, Emily Morgan and Charlotte Mitchell under Karel Reisz's superb, sensitive and fluid direction bring Harold Pinter and John Fowles screenplay to the screen in stunning fashion. Some of the scenes will live in the memory for a long time, so powerful are the visuals.
 
Set in 19th Century England it is the story of a chance meeting between Sarah (Meryl Streep), an eerily beautiful woman, and Charles (Jeremy Irons), a biologist about to be married; they have a brief but passionate affair but her deep sadness and past force her to leave him. The movie works on two chronological levels, switching seamlessly between the two parallel stories which mirror each other in many ways.
 
Visually, this film is stunningly beautiful and haunting in the way the story of Sarah, a Victorian outcast, unfolds to reveal her history.”

For his prototype artwork, displaying a high degree of finish (for what is effectively a prelim), British artist Vic Fair chose a simple but very effective design of the Meryl Streep character’s portrait enveloping a key moment from the movie. As good as the idea might have been, the design was rejected in favour of what appears to be a mostly photographic image for the resulting movie poster campaign (that still managed to retain much of Fair’s original concept).

First image is Vic's painted prototype painting and the second is the photographic version that was used for the movie poster campaign.

[Mr Trent]

High-Ballin' and The Big Sleep (circa 1978) double-bill movie poster painting by Tom Chantrell
 
In all honesty, High-Ballin' is not a film I ever remember seeing or will ever want to see. In doing some background research, the following review raised a chuckle with me:
 
"As much money seems to have been spent on stuntmen as actors. Cars screech, do wheelies, fly off a large hauler, turn somersaults, burst into flames, and generally do everything but tapdance on their reckless way to oblivion, sometimes on lonely Weston Road or in front of the Harbour Castle Hotel."

The Big Sleep is a remake of a 1946 movie. Set in England, rather than California, the story follows Raymond Chandler's book fairly closely otherwise. Philip Marlowe is asked by the elderly (and near death) General Sternwood to investigate an attempt at blackmail on one of his daughters. He soon finds that the attempt is half hearted at best and seems to be more connected with the disappearance of the other daughter's husband, Rusty Regan. Rusty's wife, seems unconcerned with his disappearance, further complicating the mystery. Only General Sternwood seems concerned as mobsters and hired killers continue to appear in the path of the investigation.

Chantrell's artwork makes (what are likely to be) two lacklustre movies seem appealing to potential cinema-goers being faced with an intriguing front-of-house movie poster display.
 
As such, nice art - shame about the movies . . .

[Mr Trent]

GUNS FOR PANCHO VILLA prototype movie poster painting by Tom Chantrell
 
An early proposed poster design, with an image size of approximately 21"x 16", for the 1972 film about the Mexican revolutionary leader, Pancho Villa. Although unused, this remains a typically inventive conceptual design by Chantrell, the bullet ridden woodwork providing a backdrop for dripping blood which reveals an image of the eponymous subject.
 
As the resulting movie was re-named ‘Pancho Villa’, this painting suggests that Guns For Pancho Villa was an early working title. The stencil-like image of Pancho is reminiscent of Che Guevara-type posters both prevalent and popular during the time.
 
A nice simple, but highly-effective design, ultimately rejected in favour of a newspaper-style movie poster campaign (also designed and illustrated by Tom Chantrell, the artwork element being the train carnage).

“Pancho Villa is a 1972 American, British and Spanish spaghetti western film directed by Eugenio Martín. The film features Telly Savalas, Clint Walker, Chuck Connors and Anne Francis. Shot in Spain, this ‘brawling spectacle’ has an often-overlooked light-comedy satirical facet, which to this day often confuses the viewers. The storyline was developed during the Vietnam War and reflected certain anti-war sentiments in American society.”

[Mr Trent]

GALAXY HORROR movie poster painting (Italian release of the British 1969 movie, THE BODY STEALERS)

“Produced by Britain's Trigon Pictures, The Body Stealers (1969) stars Patrick Allen as Bob Megan, an investigator called in to solve a bizarre mystery: During training courses, British parachutists are disappearing in a strange red mist, leaving no trace. Even more mysterious is the fact that they later turn up, with their bodies filled with lethal doses of radiation. Megan, aided by Jim Radford (Neil Connery, brother of Sean Connery), begins an investigation, which uncovers an unearthly beauty Lorna Wilde who somehow is incapable of being photographed. Eventually, Megan and Radford discover that the parachutists are being kidnapped by aliens from the planet Mygon, who use the men to try to impregnate Mygonian women, thereby saving their dying civilization. Unfortunately, a side effect of this plan seems to be the irradiation of the earthlings. Megan exposes and foils the alien plan, but he also decides to lead an effort to discover a way of saving their race from extinction.”

Re-named GALAXY HORROR for its Italian release, the resulting advertising art dramatically enlivened what is basically a low-budget British science-fiction thriller that is both short on excitement and special effects. As such, the movie short-changed cinema-going audiences captivated by a poster image that is basically a cheat and had very little to do with the movie it was seeking to promote!

With an image size of approximately 17” x 13”, this was an Italian re-designed poster artwork that differs significantly to the (rather sedate) original UK quad poster version:
 
Not entirely sure who the artist is on this one (possibly Franco Picchioni?), but the artwork (which has a nice retro-feel to it) instantly appealed to me when I saw it up for sale on American dealer, Mitch Itkowitz’s Graphic Collectibles web-site. Bought entirely for the artwork itself and not for the hopelessly dull-as-dishwater movie it represented. As such, a really nice example of the science-fiction genre.
 
Included in the photo attachments are some examples of how the artwork was used for the Italian movie poster advertising campaigns:

[Mr Trent]

I'll post some more stuff from my original art collection later on as time permits . . .

[Mr Trent]

I’VE GOTTA HORSE 1966 protype movie poster painting  by Tom Chantrell

Prototype artwork for the 1966 UK movie, I'VE GOTTA HORSE starring Billy Fury (an Elvis Presley-influenced British singer popular at the time). Prior to the go-ahead being given on a movie poster campaign, artists would submit several designs for consideration to the studio clients. This particular design was not used, but is energetic and fun. Image size of 20" x 15". The finished poster design can be seen as an additional image.

"I'VE GOTTA HORSE was Billy Fury's second hit feature film, a semi-atobiographical musical comedy that also featured Amanda Barrie, Michael Medwin, Jon Pertwee and pop bands The Gamblers and The Bachelors. It also featured Fury's own race horse, Anselmo, and several of his own dogs. Larry Parnes ,Billy Fury's manager, co-wrote the original story and co-produced ,while Kenneth Hume directed,co-produced and co-wrote the story, with musical direction by Mike Leander. This 1966 UK release was filmed on location at Great Yarmouth where Fury had just finished his summer season at the Royal Aquarium Theatre (which was used as the theatre in the film), with shooting also taking place at Shepperton Studios. The film is also known as WONDERFUL DAY."

First image is Chantrell's prototype painting and the second is the revised design that saw print for the movie poster campaign.

[Mr Trent]

SIEGE OF THE SAXONS 1966 movie poster painting by Vic Fair

"King Arthur learns one of his knights is plotting to take over and marry his daughter. Soon the soldiers of double-dealing Edmund of Cornwall slay King Arthur. However his daughter Katherine escapes with the help of outlaw Robert Marshall. Claiming she is dead Edmund makes ready to usurp the throne in league with Saxon invaders. Katherine and Robert go to find the great wizard Merlin to help them save Camelot and England. He announces that whichever Knight wishes to marry the princess must first remove King Arthur's sword from the scabbard and prove his right to the throne."

Nice example of an early 1960s Historical Adventure movie poster painting, missing a few pasted-up captions.

This doesn't appear to be a widely used movie poster for the film's front-of-house display campaign.

[Mr Trent]

THE CHRISTMAS TREE 1969 movie poster painting by Tom Chantrell

"Since the death of his mother, Pascal, ten years old, spends his holidays with his father, the rich Laurent Segur. One day, when diving near the shores of Corse, an aircraft falls into the sea. The holiday goes on happily with Catherine, the young and pretty girlfriend of Laurent. But soon blue marks appear on the face of Pascal. He has been contaminated by a nuclear weapon carried by the destroyed plane, and he won't survive more than six months. There is nothing Laurent can do, except give his son the best six months he has ever lived."

Not a movie I remember seeing, or ever wanting to see, but artist Tom Chantrell enjoyed a long career painting movie posters and I am a fan of his work. A surprisingly affordable example of his work that looks great at its size of 21" x 28"

[Mr Trent]

THIS IS MY STREET 1964 movie poster prototype painting by Tom Chantrell

Prototype movie poster painting, very close to the finished version with little discernable differences (see additional image).

"Battersea housewife Margery (June Ritchie) lives a life of drudgery in a working class terrace with her feckless husband (Mike Pratt) and her small daughter. Lodging next door with her mother is Harry (Ian Hendry), a flashy salesman and nightclub owner who repeatedly attempts to seduce Marge. At first showing little interest, Marge finally gives in after he helps find her missing daughter. Harry eventually tires of Marge, and turns his attentions to her younger, educated sister, Jinny (Annette Andre). Marge though, is infatuated, and when she discovers Harry plans to marry her sister, she attempts to kill herself – leaving a suicide note exposing her affair with Harry."

First image is of the prototype painting, with the second being the finished version that saw print as the final printed version (effectively tightening-up the detail on Chantrell's protype art).

[Mr Trent]

THE STORY OF DAVID 1961 movie poster prototype painting by Tom Chantrell

"Renowned for his courageous deeds as a youth when he slew Goliath, David (Jeff Chandler) inadvertently incurs the wrath of King Saul (Basil Sydney), who is jealous of the hero's popularity. In order to provide peace of mind for the Israelite king, Saul's scheming counselor, Doeg (Peter Arne), encourages the ruler to have David killed. David, aided by his friend Jonathan (David Knight), who is Saul's own son, attempts to survive without overtly clashing with his own people."

A prototype painting used as the basis for the quad movie poster of the 1961 sword-and-sandal historical yarn starring Jeff Chandler in one of his last roles. The movie was retitled, 'A Story of David' and this prototype design served as the basis for the finished poster art which tightened up the detail and carried the revised title lettering. Very close to the finished artwork (as can be seen in the second image of the final poster version).

[Mr Trent]

PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT 1972 prototype movie poster painting by Tom Chantrell

"Portnoy's Complaint is a 1972 comedy film written and directed by Ernest Lehman. His screenplay is based on the bestselling 1969 novel of the same name by Philip Roth.

The film focuses on the trials and tribulations of Alexander Portnoy, a Jewish man employed as the assistant commissioner of human opportunity for New York City. During a session with his psychoanalyst, he explores his childhood, his relationship with his overbearing mother, his sexual fantasies and desires, his problems with women, and his obsession with his own religion. Via flashbacks, we learn about his affairs with Bubbles Girardi, the daughter of a local hoodlum; Israeli Naomi; and gentile Mary Jane Reid, whose nickname "Monkey" reflects her remarkable agility at achieving a variety of sexual positions. Mary Jane seemingly is the girl of Portnoy's dreams, but as their relationship deepens and she begins to pressure him into giving her a ring, he shrinks from making a permanent commitment to her."

Although painted as a prototype for the central image of the British quad poster design, comparison to the final art suggests to me that Tom Chantrell might have tightened-up the detail on a print of the prototype art (rather than paint it all again!).

[Mr Trent]

Last up is a movie-related piece of original artwork:

THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY’S 1968 PRESSBOOK ILLUSTRATION BY Frank Frazetta

This amusing illustration was created for the pressbook used to promote the film THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY'S (United Artists, 1968), directed by William Friedkin. The image depicts Bert Lahr (best known as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz) as Professor Spats. Signed with a trademark "F" in the upper right corner (as well as a full signature on the reverse), this piece measures 10" x 13.5" overall, with a general image area of 7" x 11.25".

[Mr Trent]

I'm expecting delivery of three more original movie poster paintings next week.  I'll update the selection as and when the artworks arrive . . .

[erik1925]

Quite the collection, there, Terry and a big  to the forum, too!

All are visually a treat for the eyes and I particularly like the Rasputin piece, with the red eyes. That is a great touch.

It sounds like you have connected up with the right dealer, too. Are quite a large number of original art pieces available and on the market?

[Mr Trent]

Thanks for the warm welcome, Jeff.

I'd always fancied the idea of having some of the original movie poster paintings for display purposes around my house but the availability of affordable examples was a bit of a stumbling block for me (American dealers carrying such things can be quite expensive).

That changed last year whilst visiting a local friend, over here in the UK.  We got talking about movie posters and my friend produced a recently-purchased book about the great British artists who worked for decades in the field.  I mentioned that I'd love to own a few original paintings and my friend pointed me in the direction of Mike Bloomfield's 'Tom Chantrell' web-site (and sister MEM site), where such things were available at price points to suit most pockets.

My first purchase was Chantrell's original painting for 'The Christmas Tree', the affordability of which really surprised me, and I gradually added more examples throughout last year.

Paintings for more prominent movies will naturally carry a premium (as per the Patton and Rasputin originals), but that's to be expected.

[brude]

Thank you Terry for this outstanding new thread showcasing the artistic achievements of the people behind the posters.
The Frazetta piece from The Night They Raided Minskys is very cool -- Frazetta being my favorite artist.
I'm really looking forward to seeing this collection of yours grow.
 

[erik1925]

Great back story there, Terry and truly amazing how that conversation with a friend about movie posters led to and has resulted in your fine collection of original artwork done for them.

Please continue to show and post more as you wish. It is certainly great to see the original as compared to how the art looks or was possibly adjusted, when used on the final poster. 

[Mr Trent]

Cheers, Jeff.

Actually, I've had that Frazetta illustration for a number of years (bought from Heritage galleries).

As I say, some more updates later on in the week . . . .

[Monster_A_GoGo]

VERY cool!  Where do you find these? Posters can't get more "original" than those babies. Yowza!

[Mr Trent]

The Tom Chantrell web-site, run by Mike Bloomfield for the UK art . . . the 'Galaxy of Horror' came from 'Graphic Collectibles' run by Mitch Itkowitz (USA dealer) . . . and the Frazetta came from 'Heritage Auctions' (USA).

[paul waines]

Amazing stuff Terry, I wondered who was buying up all that stuff...


I only have a couple of pieces myself due to the cost of them.

This is a finished work for a Video cover...




And this is a rough for the Quad...




And welcome to the forum..

[Mr Trent]

Thanks, Paul

The Chantrell stuff can range in price, but lots of affordable examples.  Transpose the work to something comparable offered by an American dealer and you could probably add another zero to those price-tags in quite a few cases!