''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', 1939 - art by Anselmo Ballester is a mixed media by Movie World Posters which was uploaded on July 5th, 2021.
''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', 1939 - art by Anselmo Ballester
A vintage movie poster of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', a 1939 American romantic drama film directed by William Dieterle. This film is known for... more
Title
''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', 1939 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Photograph
Description
A vintage movie poster of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', a 1939 American romantic drama film directed by William Dieterle. This film is known for its adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel, its lavish production design, and its memorable performances.
The story is set in 15th-century Paris and follows the tragic tale of Quasimodo (played by Charles Laughton), a deformed and hunchbacked bell ringer of the Notre Dame Cathedral. He becomes infatuated with the beautiful gypsy dancer Esmeralda (played by Maureen O'Hara), who is also pursued by the sinister Judge Claude Frollo (played by Cedric Hardwicke). As the story unfolds, Quasimodo's loyalty to Esmeralda and his desire for acceptance are central themes.
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is characterized by its grand and atmospheric production, including the stunning recreation of medieval Paris and the Notre Dame Cathedral. The film captures the essence of Victor Hugo's novel and the rich historical setting.
Charles Laughton delivers a powerful and empathetic performance as Quasimodo, portraying the character's physical deformity and emotional depth with nuance. Maureen O'Hara shines as Esmeralda, bringing both beauty and depth to her role. Cedric Hardwicke's portrayal of Judge Frollo adds complexity to the story's antagonist.
The film explores themes of love, prejudice, and the human capacity for cruelty and compassion. It delves into the concept of inner beauty and the idea that true ugliness lies in a person's character rather than their physical appearance.
While "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" has been adapted into film and television multiple times, the 1939 version remains a significant work for its faithful adaptation of the classic novel and its memorable performances.
In conclusion, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a 1939 romantic drama film directed by William Dieterle, celebrated for its adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel, its lavish production design, and the compelling performances of Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, and Cedric Hardwicke. It is a classic representation of the timeless tale of love, compassion, and the search for acceptance.
About the artist:
Anselmo Ballester (1897–1974) was a noted Italian painter and film poster designer from Rome. He was the son of Federico Ballester (Rome, 1868–1926), a painter of Spanish origins. Inspired by his father's artistic endeavors growing up, Anselmo completed his first works at 15.
After attending the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, he specialized in film advertising for the most important silent film production houses. He created posters and other advertising material for CINES, Caesar Film, and numerous other studios.
In his studio in Rome, via della Croce 50a (then via della Passeggiata Ripetta 19), he spent almost 50 years creating thousands of sketches for playbills and paintings for film posters. He went on to form the design company BCM along with two other prominent Italian poster artists, Alfredo Capitani and Luigi Martinati
The movie posters Ballester created between the 1930s and 1950s showcased his unique painting style using tempera medium and bold colors. They typically featured one or two significant characters. His style is reminiscent of pulp fiction covers and, like the best cinema advertisements, were infused with intrigue, conflict, and passion. His works were uncomplicated yet rich in detail, a techniqe and style he himself describes:
"To become a creator of film posters ... it is necessary to study passionately, always to draw and paint everything from the truth. Then you can let your imagination run free. Whether you are creating a work of art, or a more humble advertising poster, you must be able to attract the interest of the public, to satisfy both the most refined people and the roughest, who are the majority."
From a stylistic and compositional point of view, Alfredo Ballester began by drawing inspiration from the advertising posters of Art Nouveau, and then he defined his personal code. The painter exhibited a common layout in his movie posters: the actor or actress beautifully portrayed in the foreground, and one or two scenes from the film in the background.
To achieve this result, he used a methodical technique, making numerous sketches of the project only after having the best two selected by the client, he devoted himself to the final painting, strictly handmade.
Ballester's color palette, however, was his greatest talent. The artist used colors expressively, as a tool to convey emotions. The portraits of the stars were extremely realistic but often colored with unnatural hues such as pinks or intense light blues. Ballester illustrated his characters with colors capable of conveying the range of feelings transmitted by the film.
He was written about in "Anselmo Ballester: the Origins of the Film Poster," published by the University of Parma, Study Center and Communication Archive in 1981. In addition, Dave Kerr made extensive use of his images in his 2003 book, "Italian Film Posters, "published by The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Permanent collections of his work are displayed at the University of Parma, Communication Studies Center and Archive (CSAC) and the Cinema Museum in Brush, Montecosaro.
To see more of his posters search by his last name.
Uploaded
July 5th, 2021
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