''Mysterious Island'', 1961, by Alfredo Capitani is a painting by Movie World Posters which was uploaded on November 5th, 2022.
''Mysterious Island'', 1961, by Alfredo Capitani
Base painting of the vintage movie poster for ''Mysterious Island'', a 1961 adventure film loosely based on Jules Verne's novel of the same name.... more
Title
''Mysterious Island'', 1961, by Alfredo Capitani
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Painting - Movie Posters
Description
Base painting of the vintage movie poster for ''Mysterious Island'', a 1961 adventure film loosely based on Jules Verne's novel of the same name. Directed by Cy Endfield and produced by Charles H. Schneer, the film is notable for its blend of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy elements.
The story follows a group of Union soldiers who escape from a Confederate prison during the American Civil War by hijacking a hot air balloon. After being caught in a storm, they crash-land on an uncharted and seemingly deserted island in the South Pacific. The survivors, led by Captain Cyrus Harding (played by Michael Craig), must adapt to their new environment and contend with various challenges, including giant creatures, pirates, and other mysteries on the island.
One of the most significant discoveries the group makes is the presence of Captain Nemo (played by Herbert Lom), the enigmatic character from Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." Nemo provides assistance to the castaways and offers his knowledge and technology to help them survive.
"Mysterious Island" is known for its impressive special effects, including the use of stop-motion animation for the giant creatures that inhabit the island. The film's visuals and action sequences were groundbreaking for their time and added to the excitement and spectacle of the story.
The film's cast includes Michael Craig, Joan Greenwood, Gary Merrill, and Herbert Lom, among others. Michael Craig's portrayal of Captain Cyrus Harding anchors the film, and Herbert Lom's interpretation of Captain Nemo adds depth and intrigue to the narrative.
While "Mysterious Island" may take liberties with Jules Verne's original novel, it remains a beloved adventure film with a sense of wonder and excitement. It combines elements of science fiction and fantasy and is remembered for its imaginative storytelling, special effects, and the timeless appeal of Jules Verne's literary creations.
Base art is the poster artwork after the text has been digitally removed. It thereby closely recreates the original painting used for the poster. As practically all those original paintings have been lost, a recreation attempts to display the original art before the movie studios added descriptive text. See also our collection "Movie Poster Base Paintings."
About the artist:
Alfredo Capitani (1895–1985) was born in Ciampino, Italy, and attended the English Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. After graduating, he began working in theaters, setting up stage backdrops.
The new art styles he was surrounded by inspired his creativity in the first decades of the 20th century. He witnessed the dynamic advances in pictorial art, including the post-Impressionism era and experimentation into Expressionism and Abstraction.
In 1919, he opened a studio producing advertising posters, fostering collaborations with other painters. His work included preparing cinema set-ups, such as large wall posters and paintings. His movie posters became among the most famous in Italian design. His experience with theaters, stages, and spotlights was essential to highlight his flashy but synthetic style. Extremely concise in delineating figures, Capitani consistently innovated.
His lines are immediate and well-defined, like outlining theatrical spaces. Even the impact of colors is intense and full of contrasts. Capitani’s posters are a synthesis between forms and graphic lettering.
He created posters for Italian and American producers, including MGM, Fox, and Columbia Pictures. Some of his well-known posters were those for "Gilda," "Moby Dick," "Blood Alley," "My Darling Clementine," and "The Loves of Carmen." He also formed the design company BCM, (an acronym of surnames,) with two other prominent Italian poster artists, Anselmo Ballester and Luigi Martinati
By the early 1960s he no longer did movie posters, and instead dedicated himself to easel painting until his 1985 death in Rome at 90.
Search "Capitani" to see his other works.
Uploaded
November 5th, 2022
More from Movie World Posters
Comments
There are no comments for ''Mysterious Island'', 1961, by Alfredo Capitani. Click here to post the first comment.