Picture Show: Classic Movie Posters from the TCM Archives

by Dianna Edwards, Robert Osborne, Turner Classic Movies

Turner Classic Movies may be best known for running the timeless films we never tire of watching, but behind the scenes is another treasure few get to a vast archive of posters from more than seven decades of movie making, including the remarkable collections of the great studios RKO, MGM, and Warner Bros. Picture Show gathers more than 150 of the most compelling and memorable examples for a scenic tour of Hollywood history and a dazzling compendium of graphic design excellence. From the great dramas such as Casablanca to one of the most distinguished monster movies, King Kong , to the legendary comedy of the Thin Man series, these emblems of another era speak volumes about the evolution of film, design, and popular culture. Throughout, author Dianna Edwards elucidates the historical relevance and touches on the stunning tropes of the posters, peppered with juicy bits of star-powered gossip. Including a number of seldom-seen examples, Picture Show is an introduction to great movies through their treasured posters.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In

168 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

Reviews

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

the inclusion of lengthier descriptions of the films themselves or analyses/descriptions of the art would have added value to this otherwise beautiful collection of movie posters

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a whole lot of content and not a lot of great poster art on display. Book needed more context--who are the great artists responsible for the imagery, what made these posters stand out as classics, etc. Nice to look at, little to learn.

[The Voracious Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I wouldn’t give to have some of these!

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Respectful irreverence" indeed. ;)

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the brief descriptions of each film to go with it's beautifully reproduced poster.