''Golden Boy'', 1939 - art by Eric Rohman

A vintage movie poster reprint of ''Golden Boy'', a 1939 American drama film directed by Rouben Mamoulian, starring Barbara Stanwyck and William... more

by Movie World Posters

Title

''Golden Boy'', 1939 - art by Eric Rohman

Artist

Movie World Posters

Medium

Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Posters

Description

A vintage movie poster reprint of ''Golden Boy'', a 1939 American drama film directed by Rouben Mamoulian, starring Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden. The film is based on the play of the same name by Clifford Odets and explores themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the pursuit of success.

The story centers around Joe Bonaparte, played by William Holden, a talented young violinist with dreams of becoming a professional musician. However, he faces pressure from his family, particularly his Italian immigrant father, Mr. Bonaparte, portrayed by Lee J. Cobb, to give up his music career and become a successful prizefighter instead.

Barbara Stanwyck plays Lorna Moon, a tough and street-smart woman who becomes romantically involved with Joe and supports his aspirations. Lorna's character is complex, as she grapples with her feelings for Joe and her own past.

As Joe begins to excel in the boxing world and climb the ranks as a prizefighter, he must confront the conflict between his artistic dreams and his desire for financial success. The film delves into the moral and personal dilemmas faced by Joe as he navigates the world of boxing, where violence and physical harm are a stark contrast to the world of music and art.

"Golden Boy" is notable for its examination of the sacrifices individuals make in pursuit of their dreams and the choices they must face when ambition clashes with personal values. William Holden delivers a compelling performance as Joe, capturing the character's internal struggle.

The film also addresses themes of class, family dynamics, and the American Dream during the Great Depression era. It presents a gritty and realistic portrayal of the boxing world and the challenges faced by those trying to make a name for themselves in a brutal sport.

"Golden Boy" is a classic example of Hollywood's golden age of cinema and features the talents of Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden, who would both go on to have illustrious careers in the film industry. The film is remembered for its exploration of the human spirit and the choices people make when faced with conflicting desires.
About the artist:

Eric Wilhelm Rohman (May 18, 1891, Nyköping, Sweden— Jan. 6, 1949, Stockholm) was a Swedish illustrator and advertising artist.

The crisp and essential style of Rohman is striking in his movie posters. His traits are well outlined and sharp and give life to the characters; he uses few colors and is never too loud, he has a great originality in managing the composition and the construction of space.

The Swedish artist creates movie posters that are caricatured and powerful in the representation, with high graphic settings. He depicts essential backgrounds of cities, apartment interiors, airplanes, bars, or simple backgrounds with geometric patterns. Rohman's posters attract the audience's attention creating curious scenes, geometric and coherent in the narrative but never static. That never gets boring.

He was raised in Helsingborg, where he discovered a passion for drawing and acting after his undergraduate education. To satisfy his newfound craving, he spent years studying under Swedish painter and illustrator Carl Wilhelmson at the Gothenburg Academy of the Arts. He took side work creating advertising illustrations for newspapers to pay his tuition. He also designed and drew several book covers and books.

Rohman had a brother who managed a large chain of theaters, which needed a constant supply of original art for film posters. Rohman then began working for his brother, which launched his career as a poster designer. In 1921 he was the only person in Sweden who worked full-time creating poster illustrations.

However, to fulfill the theater's demand, he had to work quickly. As a result, he designed four or five posters every week. But he was nonetheless generally still able to bring out the essential details of the film and its actors to express the essence of a film's theme.

Search "Rohman" to see more of his art.

Uploaded

April 24th, 2021