''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'', 1954 - art by Renato Casaro is a mixed media by Movie World Posters which was uploaded on December 25th, 2021.
''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'', 1954 - art by Renato Casaro
A vintage movie poster of ''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'', a 1954 American war film directed by Mark Robson. The film is based on a novel of the same name... more
Title
''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'', 1954 - art by Renato Casaro
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage movie poster of ''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'', a 1954 American war film directed by Mark Robson. The film is based on a novel of the same name by James A. Michener and is set during the Korean War. It is known for its aerial combat sequences, dramatic storytelling, and exploration of the personal and moral challenges faced by military personnel.
The film's story follows Navy Reserve Lieutenant Harry Brubaker, portrayed by William Holden, a lawyer who is recalled to active duty as a bomber pilot during the Korean War. Brubaker is assigned a dangerous mission to destroy a series of heavily defended bridges in North Korea, known as the "Bridges at Toko-Ri." As the mission unfolds, Brubaker and his fellow pilots must navigate treacherous conditions and enemy fire to complete their objective.
"The Bridges at Toko-Ri" is not just a war film but also a character-driven drama that delves into the lives and relationships of the servicemen and their families. Mickey Rooney plays Mike Forney, Brubaker's close friend and fellow pilot, and Grace Kelly portrays Nancy Brubaker, Harry's wife, who anxiously awaits his return.
The film explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and the toll of war on individuals and their families. It depicts the bravery and camaraderie of the men in uniform while also addressing the personal conflicts and dilemmas they face.
One of the film's standout elements is its thrilling aerial combat sequences, which were well-received by audiences and critics. The scenes were shot using real Navy aircraft and carriers, adding to the film's authenticity.
"The Bridges at Toko-Ri" received critical acclaim upon its release and was a commercial success. It was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Grace Kelly. The film remains a respected and enduring work in the war film genre, known for its poignant storytelling, strong performances, and gripping action sequences.
About the artist:
Born in 1935 in Treviso, Italy, Casaro painted posters for many of the world's leading producers and directors. He was exceptionally skilled at his accurate portrayals of actors and his unique use of color and composition. As a result, he was in demand by many of the major film studios, for which he created about 2,000 posters.
In October 2021, "The New York Times" stated that during the six decades of his career, "Casaro's hand-drawn art has hooked movie audiences around the world since the 1950s. Tarantino and Stallone are big fans." His artwork has graced numerous Italian and American posters along with many from Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
His career began when, realizing that besides loving going to see movies, he had a natural knack for drawing and painting. He was offered a job when he was 17 by the owner of Garibaldi Cinema in Treviso, Italy, to paint billboards in exchange for free admission. A year later, he moved to Rome to work as an apprentice for Favalli Studio, a leading film advertising agency.
In 1956, he opened his own art studio at the age of only 21. Within a few years, he drew the attention of film producer Dino De Laurentis. Then in 1965, another producer, Sergio Leone, engaged him to design posters for many of his films, including his early westerns starring Clint Eastwood. In Leone's film, "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984), he gave Casaro's artwork recognition in the movie's end-credits.
In 1968, Casaro began working with Cineriz, an Italian media company involved primarily in producing and distributing films. He was among the first artists to use a manual airbrush for his works, beginning in 1975. This new technique helped revolutionize poster art, which had until then relied on a more impressionistic style with traditional brushwork.
In 1982 De Laurentis commissioned Casaro to paint posters for films featuring a new actor, one who he felt was destined for fame: Arnold Schwarzenegger. He then painted the posters for the "Conan" trilogy, the breakthrough films for Schwarzenegger, who was mostly known as a champion bodybuilder. However, De Laurentis wanted Casaro to focus on the actor's face, not his impressive physique. "Dino wanted to launch him," Mr. Casaro said. "He knew that Schwarzenegger would explode as an actor."
That same year, another major star, Sylvester Stallone, said he loved how Casaro had depicted him in the film poster depicting the troubled Vietnam vet, "Rambo" (1982). "Stallone said that I had entered into his soul," Casaro said.
He continued painting and designing film posters throughout the following decades. In 1987, director Bernardo Bertolucci hired him to design the poster for "The Sheltering Sky." Beginning in 1989, he began using a new style for many of his posters, that of interpreting actors and scenes inspired by masters from the 16th century.
He continued designing posters until recently. In 2018, director Quentin Tarantino commissioned him to produce the artwork for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
Looking back at his poster styles, Casaro said, "The important thing was to capture the essential: that moment, that glance, that attitude, that movement that says everything and condenses the entire story. That's the hard part."
He currently lives in Andalucia, Spain, where he still paints. However, he largely stopped doing posters in 1998, as he preferred creating hand-painted or manually airbrushed images over the digital and photoshopped renderings that had become the industry standard.
In 2017, the book "Renato Casaro: The art of movie painting" was published, showcasing a large selection of his works and describing the evolution of film art from its early years to the present. And in 2020, a documentary film about his life was released, titled, "The Last Movie Painter".
Search "Casaro" to see other works.
Uploaded
December 25th, 2021
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