web analytics

Frank McCarthy’s Movie Poster Magic

1960s, 1970s, Art, Film, Poster • 5144 Views • Comments Off on Frank McCarthy’s Movie Poster Magic

In another of our occasional posts on little-known artists who created very well-known film posters we take a brief look at the life and art of Frank McCarthy a man you quite possibly have never heard of but, if you have even a passing interest in movies (and you are of a certain age), you will have almost certainly seen his work adorning the walls of your local fleapit.

 

Born in New York in 1924 McCarthy studied at the Art Students League of New York (which is still around today) and then graduated from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He began working as a commercial illustrator and aged 24 opened his own studio illustrating paperback books, magazines and advertisements. He gained an excellent reputation for his use of colour and his ability to illustrate action scenes giving them a certain frission and energy.

 

The big movie companies became aware of his back-catalogue and he began working for Paramount, United Artists and Warner Brothers when the film studios realised they could encapsulate action scenes far better using illustrations than photos. During the 1960s McCarthy was responsible for the advertising posters for many of the big name movies of the time including Thunderball, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape and of course Where Eagles Dare (Broadsword calling Danny Boy).

 

For us Frank McCarthy’s best work was during his purple period in the Sixties; however he changed tack towards the end of the decade when he moved into the world of Western fine art where his work would be sold through galleries across the States. The next few decades saw him use his talents illustrating the scenery he loved from his home in Arizona and using his passion to earn his living.

 

McCarthy passed away in 2002 and left quite a legacy of which we will feature our favourite bits. Hope you like ‘em.

 

 

 

The Great Escape

 

 

 

Once Upon a Time in the West

 

 

 

 

Operation Crossbow

 

 

 

8503354908_b4accfe082_b (1)

 

 

 

On Her Majesys Secret Service

 

 

 

 

That Man in Rio

 

 

 

 

This Property

 

 

You Canr Win Them All

 

 

 

JAck of Diamonds

 

 

 

The Venetian Affair

 

 

 

The Defector

 

 

8502221367_9c173bd99c_z

 

 

 

dark of the sun

 

 

 

8502228443_a50f0afebe_z

 

 

 

they came to rob las vegas

 

 

golden bulls

 

 

 

8503325222_65b0c8164a_b

 

 

 

8502243651_817ff811b5_z

« »