It was a good year for movie poster design. Some monumental films were being released (The Godfather and Deliverance), and some designers where helping to break out of the mold and try something different to help draw the interest in from passerbys.  Below are twelve that I felt made my cut for great movie poster designs of 1972.

The Godfather (1972)

This is one of the more iconic movie logos ever created.  Originally crafted by the great S. Neil Fujita who originally created this image for the book cover, this stark black and white movie poster didn’t need color to help draw it in.  Choosing to equally divide the verticle space with black and white, while granting more room for the movie details (actors, credits, etc), was actually a brilliant move as it helped to play off of the contrast and give it a sense of symmetry.  One of the best for 1972!

There was also an Italian version of this poster (below) that chose to keep the simplicity but added the red profile of the title character to the field of black. Both are beautifully managed in their design!

Malcolm X (1972)

This poster is a great opposite to The Godfather’s poster in that it used a great warm read to really get your attention and then by titling the entire layout grid of the design, it helps to give this poster the visual attention it deserved.  The white, thick title treatment helps pair well with this color and makes it just jump off the page.  A very strong design…

Child’s Play (1972)

While this poster isn’t edgy or doing anything different, it made my list because I loved the duotone look and the sheer concept of the child’s blocks and gameboard to convey the movie’s premise.  I guess my love of this poster is more in its conceptual greatness than it’s design greatness.  Great use of Helvetica Thin too…

Frenzy (1972)

What is not to love about this poster?!  The spiraling imagery and the use of the neck tie to help achieve it. The stark color palette of black, yellow and red… This really helps convey the tension that one would come to expect from the Master of Suspense – Alfred Hitchcock.

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Quite a different approach than the previous poster, this poster for one of Robert Redford’s earlier movies uses a minimalist approach in color and generous use of negative space to draw the eye into the poster.  The element of snow in the movie is strongly conveyed by the tactics of this negative space.  Beautiful piece!

Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)

This poster uses a brilliant color palette of black, orange, red and purple to make its visual statement.  The gleaming eyes of the Count really help make this poster not only scary, but visually brilliant, and therefore, eye-catching.  I love the logotype for the title treatment with the cross/stake image….

Deliverance (1972)

While this movie’s film quotes are more memorable than its poster, I included it in my list for one very good reason.  The choice of images to use in connection with the headline.  It is powerful and effective in making you wonder just what the heck happens in this movie to these guys and why.  Just another example of why selecting just the right image can be just as important as how you lay it out in the design of the poster.

Elvis on Tour

While I am not a huge music fan of Elvis, this poster design for one of his many filmed live performances help to continue the fortified funk of the King during his reign in the early 1970′s.  That vibrant, wavy sunburst pattern, the warm gradient image of him in his Vegas-style garments, and the deep navy blue at the bottom really make this a striking poster.

The Other (1972)

Again, it was the year of bold areas of color and high-contrasting imagery.  Another great example how a limited color palette with stark images can make a great, memorable poster.

Separate Peace (1972)

As if my previous notes above weren’t enough, here is another example but the designer took it one step further by using a very non-traditional color at the time.  What?! No red or yellow or white?!  Nope.  A fantastic grass green.  This poster really sets itself apart when on the wall with many other posters at its release time.

Skyjacked (1972)

Whoa…  Who would have thought that this poster or movie premise would be so foreshadowing to our current times.  I love the visual direction created by repeating the plane image.  I love the color palette of charcoal gray, cardinal and creme.  And I love the title type treatment and use of Avante Garde for its text.  Its a nice note to end on for this blog entry….

Now on to the year of 1973….