The Artists - The Movie Posters of Frank McCarthy
You are mesmerised by a dynamic movie poster from the 1960's. A rugged and earnest hero is in peril as an army of toy soldier figures swarm against an exploding background.
Your eyes dart about the image as it twists and spills towards you. Your heartbeat quickens as it responds to a release of adrenalin caused by an uncontrollable sense of excitement...
Chances are, the image working its magic is a movie poster by the legendary Frank McCarthy.
Born in New York in 1924, Frank McCarthy studied at the Art Students League of New York (as did artists such as Roy Lichtenstein) learning anatomy and figure drawing from George Bridgman and complex image composition from Reginald Marsh.
The heavy influence of both men can be seen throughout McCarthy's later work.
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An art class drawing of a heroic figure by George Bridgman |
A swarming mass of figures in Reginald Marsh's 'In Fourteenth Street' (1934), Copyright the Estate of Reginald Marsh |
The Movie Posters of Frank McCarthy
In 1948, following a further three years of study at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute, McCarthy opened his own studio and began an art career that would last over fifty years.
Having completed commissions for book publishers, magazines and advertisers, his first movie related success was a painting for the press-book of United Artist's 1959 biblical blockbuster "Solomon and Sheba", starring Yul Brynner and Gina Lollobrigida.
Frank McCarthy's illustration for the press book of the 1959 movie Solomon and Sheba
Over the course of the 1960's he produced an amazing body of movie poster work characterised by highly dynamic action scenes. Amongst his work are the posters for "The Great Escape", "The Dirty Dozen", "Von Ryan's Express" and perhaps most famously, three James Bond films.
We think we have identified seventy-two movie posters that carry Frank McCarthy's art. Which ones have we got wrong? Which ones have we missed? Over to you…
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The Ten Commandments (1956) 1972 Re-Release
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The Unforgiven (1960)
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Barabbas (1961)
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Mysterious Island (1961)
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Hatari (1962)
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Hero's Island (1962)
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Taras Bulba (1962) Style A
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Taras Bulba (1962) Style B
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The Great Escape (1963)
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The Great Escape (1963) 1980 Re-Release
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Kings of the Sun (1963) Style A
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Kings of the Sun (1963) Style B
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PT109 (1963)
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Rampage (1963)
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Station Six-Sahara (1963)
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The Castilian (1963)
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36 Hours (1964)
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A Distant Trumpet (1964)
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Flight From Ashiya (1964)
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Rio Conchos (1964)
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That Man From Rio (1964)
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Circus World (1964)
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Guns at Batasi (1964)
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The Train (1964)
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Genghis Khan (1965)
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The Glory Guys (1965) Style A
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The Glory Guys (1965) Style B
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The Hallelujah Trail (1965)
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Operation Crossbow (1965) U.S.
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Operation Crossbow (1965) International
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Sands of the Kalahari (1965)
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Shenandoah (1965)
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Thunderball (1965) with Robert McGinnis
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Up From The Beach (1965)
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Von Ryan's Express (1965) White Style
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Von Ryan's Express (1965) Yellow Style
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Around The World Under The Sea (1966)
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Beau Geste (1966)
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The Blue Max (1966)
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The Defector (1966)
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Duel At Diablo (1966)
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Judith (1966)
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Khartoum (1966) - White Style
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Khartoum (1966) - Yellow Style
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This Property Is Condemned (1966)
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Africa - Texas Style (1967)
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The Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967)
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The Corrupt Ones (1967)
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Day of Anger (1967)
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The Dirty Dozen (1967)
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Jack of Diamonds (1967) with Robert McGinnis
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The Long Duel (1967)
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Tobruk (1967)
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The Venetian Affair (1967)
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You Only Live Twice (1967) Style A
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You Only Live Twice (1967) Style B
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Anzio (1968)
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Attack On The Iron Coast (1968)
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Custer of the West (1968)
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Danger: Diabolik (1968)
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Dark of the Sun (1968) (aka The Mercenaries)
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The Green Berets (1968)
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Guns For San Sebastian (1968)
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Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
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They Came To Rob Las Vegas (1968)
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Where Eagles Dare (1968)
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The Chairman (1969)
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Krakatoa East of Java (1969)
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On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) with Robert McGinnis
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The Valley of Gwangi (1969)
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You Can't Win 'Em All (1970)
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Lawman (1971)
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A blog reader (DK) has pointed out that we missed McCarthy's artwork for the International release of Blake Edwards 1971 western "Wild Rovers". We will try and track down a good poster carrying that amazing artwork, which is shown below.
Frank McCarthy's artwork for the 1971 Blake Edward western, Wild Rovers
In the early 1970's McCarthy turned his back on commercial illustration to focus on his love of Western painting.
His astonishing images of stampeding cattle, galloping steeds, charging native Indians and sojourning cowboys continue the vein of dynamic realism seen within his movie posters.
'Ambush' painted by Frank McCarthy and published by The Greenwich Workshop
Recognised by the Cowboy Artists of America and the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame (1997), three books have been published of his post-movie-poster paintings.
In his book "The Art of Frank C. McCarthy" (The Greenwich Workshop, 1992), McCarthy states "I have been a man of two careers, one profession." If only we all could be so lucky.
'The Decoys' painted by Frank McCarthy and published by The Greenwich Workshop
Frank C. McCarthy passed in November 2002, his work cherished by museums and collectors alike. Prints of his work are published by The Greenwich Workshop.
If you'd like to find an action packed Frank McCarthy movie poster for your wall, why not take a look at the Frank McCarthy posters we currently have available.
We hope you find something you love.
Adam and the Art of the Movies team.
Have you forgotten two of his most impressive artworks: IS PARIS BURNING? and DARK OF THE SUN. The second corresponds to the same film also titled THE MERCENAIRES (UK, 1968) but there are two different posters, one of which you have shown here. Really, they are both magnificent.
Great spot DK!
We’ll track down a good poster that carries that artwork and add it in.
Thank you!
Great summary. However you are missing McCarthy’s WILD ROVER artwork for its international release poster. Very kinetic with horses galloping and guns at ready. Features exceptional portraits of William Holden, Ryan O’Neal & Karl Malden.