''Born Yesterday'', 1950 - art by Anselmo Ballester

A vintage movie poster of ''Born Yesterday'', a 1950 comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor. The film is known for its sharp humor, witty... more

by Movie World Posters

Title

''Born Yesterday'', 1950 - art by Anselmo Ballester

Artist

Movie World Posters

Medium

Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Posters

Description

A vintage movie poster of ''Born Yesterday'', a 1950 comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor. The film is known for its sharp humor, witty dialogue, and a standout performance by Judy Holliday, who won an Academy Award for her role. Here's a description of the movie:

Plot Summary:
"Born Yesterday" is set in Washington, D.C., and revolves around the story of Billie Dawn, portrayed by Judy Holliday. Billie is a brash and unsophisticated woman who is the girlfriend of a wealthy but corrupt junkyard tycoon, Harry Brock, portrayed by Broderick Crawford. Harry is in Washington to bribe politicians and gain business advantages, and he brings Billie along, despite her lack of refinement.

As Harry's crude behavior becomes increasingly embarrassing in political circles, he decides to hire a journalist and tutor, Paul Verrall, portrayed by William Holden, to educate Billie and make her more presentable. Paul is an intelligent and principled man who takes on the task of teaching Billie about culture, history, and politics.

As Billie begins to learn and grow under Paul's guidance, she undergoes a transformation from a naïve and uneducated woman to a more self-confident and aware individual. She starts to question Harry's unethical business dealings and becomes increasingly independent.

The film explores themes of education, empowerment, and the awakening of personal potential. Billie's journey to self-discovery is at the heart of the story, and her character development is central to the film's narrative.

"Born Yesterday" is celebrated for its sharp and witty dialogue, particularly in the exchanges between Billie and Paul. Judy Holliday's portrayal of Billie is a highlight of the film, as she captures the character's humor and endearing qualities.

The film's comedic elements are balanced with moments of drama and social commentary, as it highlights the importance of education and critical thinking in empowering individuals to make informed choices.

Judy Holliday's performance in "Born Yesterday" earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, and her portrayal of Billie remains one of the iconic roles of her career. The film's success also led to a successful Broadway adaptation of the story.

"Born Yesterday" is regarded as a classic comedy-drama that addresses important social and personal themes while delivering humor and entertainment. It continues to be appreciated for its timeless message about the transformative power of knowledge and self-awareness.

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

May 30th, 2021