French artist Philippe Druillet is hands-down my favorite film poster illustrator. While there have been many skilled pulp artists (both named and anonymous) who have created iconic posters linked to famous films, Druillet's art graced some of the sell-sheets for far more eccentric cinematic efforts of the 60s, 70s and 80s.I became aware of Druillet's work from the posters for Jean Rollin's first vampire trilogy ("Le viol du vampire," "La vampire nue," and "Le frisson des vampires," shown above). The combination of Art Nouveau flourishes with fantasy-horror content complements Rollin's films beautifully.
And then there's his poster for "Quest for Fire," a movie that holds a special-if-silly place in my heart. I'm convinced that all People Of A Certain Age had to watch "Quest for Fire" at some point in their high school career. My art history teacher showed this flick, but was careful to fast-forward through the sex scenes. I love movies where a single caveman invents everything--what the hell ever happened to that subgenre? Why is there no thriving CAVEPUNK movement right now? Seriously, get on that, internet.
A prime example of this flavor of pseudo-anthropological lunacy is "Clan of the Cave Bear," and lo and behold, here's another Druillet-illo'ed poster! Another tale from high school involves a group of gal-pals of mine making each other little magical bags with deer teeth and pine needles and various woodland materials for... I dunno, luck or something. High school girls engage in crazy magical junk--that's a proven fact. I went along with this mainly due to my unrequited crush on one of the girls involved. Also, culty religious shit revolving around fictional cavewomen is no stupider than, say, Wicca. Still--great poster, right?
I like "Star Wars." I like Druillet's "Star Wars" even better.
Rounding things out with a book cover, I think this depiction of H.P. Lovecraft's eldritch horrors really conveys a sense of sweeping dread. Or maybe I just dig that recurring decorative circular motif. A little from column A, a little from column B, I suppose.
I highly recommend checking out Druillet.com for acres more fabulous illustrations. It's in French, but I have faith that you'll sort it out. Hell, just click randomly--you're sure to land on some really cool eye candy!
14 comments:
I first came across Druillet's posters for Rollin's films in The Seal of Dracula, an early '70s book about vampire movies. Only since the advent of the internet have I finally been able to see them all. Glorious. Love that HPL one!
As for cave punk, there is this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/fashion/10caveman.html
Thank you for posting these. Druillet's stuff in the old Metal Hurlant/Heavy Metal was mindblowing, and so is this stuff.
"Also, culty religious shit revolving around fictional cavewomen is no stupider than, say, Wicca."
I'm not even sure I see how it's *different*!
That Lovecraft poster is wondrous. I hadn't seen that before, and now my life is richer.
Fantastic stuff! Druillet's posters for Rollin's films are definitely at the top of the whole movie poster art subgenre.
And is it just me, or does that Star Wars poster look like a mash-up of that series and ZARDOZ? :)
I don't know if I've mentioned how INCREDIBLY ENVIOUS I am that you own this poster (it *is* this one, right)? I had no idea who the artist was...the rest of his works are a treat as well!
And yes, ha! Stupid magical junk.
And Cavepunk! I can't wait til this catches on.
Love Druillet's work more than I can say. My battered copy of his UK translated Lone Sloane/Delirius collection from Dragon's Dream is still one of my most prized possessions, and imported copies of Metal Hurlant were a quintessential part of my late seventies teen experience. It was a mind-blowing moment when, a few years back, I discovered that he'd collaborated with Jean Rollin, another of my great heroes. He can even be glimpsed briefly as an extra in La Viol Du Vampire, and some of the set design is unmistakably his work. (That multi-breasted idol . . who else?)
The ButOfCourse! Zone dr00ls along w/YE:
i am sending Thee Tenebrous a jpg of another PD sexy poster that She may or not share...:)
I so love that first pic...I think maybe I need to turn it into a tee-shirt!!!
I first saw the Druillet poster for Le Frisson de Vampire in David Pirie's the Vampire Cinema back in the mid-70s (I picked up an import copy at a Brentano's for less than you pay for a cup of coffee these days). This immediately shot to the top of my must see list (ok, the nude vampire women didn't hurt either), and I was not disappointed when I got a bootleg copy of this in '89, which I promptly adorned with a color photocopy of Druillet's work. One of the few times I wasn't disappointed in a film I waited ages to see.
Gorgeous posters, reminds me that I'm going to "Thrill of the Vampires" tonight at Cambridge's Brattle Theater. Big Screen Rollin!
Nice stuff. I just barely remember Quest for Fire. Did that have the scene where the FM and one M were having sex, and one of the lone males looked at the other, only to get smacked away? I think I saw this with my Mom when it was in theaters when I was in middle school. Ah, the '80s.
Will, it looks like my dreams may very well come true! And of course a couple of pals have emailed me to remind me that Brian Horrorwitz's band The Ubangis could very well count as LITERAL Cavepunk. Maybe I'm behind the curve and we need to start talking about Bronzepunk--y'know, shields and daggers and nude Olympics. Not that I'm going to Google any of that. *shudders*
Vicar, when I first saw the "Star Wars" poster I did a double-take, thinking that there was, in fact, a Druillet-illo'ed "Zardoz" poster! But no, it's Darth Vader's helmet. Still, a beautiful dream.
Mlle Ghoul, I do indeed own that poster, as well as the one for "The Nude Vampire." I've been half-heartedly searching for "Rape of the Vampire" to complete the grouping, but I'm afraid of how much it's going to cost if/when I track it down. I suspect I'm'a' need a raise before I can start tracking that down in earnest...!
Soukesian, I had no idea Druillet appeared in "Rape of the Vampire!" I'm going to have to give that a close re-watch. What an excellent bit of info--thank you!
Adam, I'm retrospectively INCREDIBLY jealous of your cinema-going experience. I hope it was wonderful!
Darius, I think that's the same movie. "Quest for Fire" was allegedly all kinds of researched and accurate, but it just came off as pompous and silly. The high-school art history teacher who played this for my class (when we were 17/18 years old, mind you) fast-forwarded through the sex scenes. Also, according to QFF, cultural evolution happened REAL FUCKING FAST, and largely revolved around the transition from doggie-style to missionary. Or so I was led to believe at the time.
So, how long did it take us to get to reverse cowgirl? ;-)
it' s written on Druillet' s website but for those interested there is an artbook signed by the author and limited to 350 .
I saw it in a bookshop but that was too much for me (I believe that was nearly 50€)
And If you read french and are interested in Metal Hurlant or just comics and movies, Jean Pierre Dionnet, the founder of Metal Hurlant with Moebius, Druillet and an other guy, has his own blog (really interesting) : http://www.humano.com/blog/l-ange-du-bizarre
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