''Blood Alley'', 1955 - art by Alfredo Capitani is a mixed media by Movie World Posters which was uploaded on February 10th, 2022.
''Blood Alley'', 1955 - art by Alfredo Capitani
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''Blood Alley'', a 1955 American adventure film set against the backdrop of the Cold War, produced by John Wayne,... more
Title
''Blood Alley'', 1955 - art by Alfredo Capitani
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''Blood Alley'', a 1955 American adventure film set against the backdrop of the Cold War, produced by John Wayne, who also stars in the film alongside Lauren Bacall. The movie, directed by William A. Wellman, was released by Warner Bros. and utilized CinemaScope and Warnercolor in its production. The plot centers on American Merchant Captain Tom Wilder, played by John Wayne, who is imprisoned by the Chinese Communists. He is assisted by Chinese villagers in his escape and is tasked with the dangerous mission of sailing them to the safety of Hong Kong. The journey takes them through the Formosa Strait, a passage perilously referred to as Blood Alley due to the risks involved.
The film has been noted for its jingoistic undertones and the use of John Wayne's charismatic screen presence to portray the dramatic escape of a village of Chinese natives from Communist rule. Despite some criticism of its pacing, "Blood Alley" has been described as a fully entertaining film, highlighted by its impressive backlot sets that add to the film's visual appeal. In a particularly daring act, Captain Wilder is "shanghaied" into leading the entire village to freedom aboard an ancient paddle steamer, which adds an element of historical intrigue to the narrative
About the poster 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
February 10th, 2022