The Poster Art of Robert McGinnis: Bond and Beyond

Mohan is a family physician, film and TV aficionado, a keen bibliophile and an eclectic scribbler.

The Posters

You've seen those Posters. They often tell a story. They seem so full of sheer action the images threaten to pop out three dimensionally. There is poetry in action. There is usually so much happening, your eyes are overwhelmed. The men are immaculately dressed. The women are gorgeous and oh so feminine.

Coming from the numerous paperback covers that helped those pulp thrillers sell millions of copies, Robert McGinnis was brilliantly suited to design the films of that era, full of verve, immensely cool and always sexy.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

It started with the stunning rendition of elegant Audrey Hepburn clutching a cigarette holder, in her little black dress, immaculately coiffed, and looking at you from the poster of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Compared to garish film posters of that time, this had a minimalistic charm with all that white space neat fonts, and small romantic scene unfolding in the background as Audrey Hepburn charms the foreground. A classic composition.

He revisited Audrey Hepburn's style for 'How to Steal a Million'

McGinnis, the 'Poster boy' of 60s and 70s

This iconic poster brought Robert McGinnis, the ace cover artist for countless paperbacks, into the world of film. and we are all the more lucky for it. For the career in poster art that started in Breakfast at Tiffany's moved soon to what was part of a phenomena in the 60s and 70s.

Bond, James Bond.

Robert McGinnis' artwork has become synonymous with the heyday of Bond.

McGinnis' ability to render beautiful women, gadgets and action went hand in hand with the Bond epitome of cool.

Could anyone beat the Look up, Look down, Look out! poster below.

Iconic Bond

McGinnis continued to supply the poster art for Bond well into the Roger Moore era. These are now considered some of the most collectible poster art in film history.

A new Style is born

Hollywood couldn't get enough of this style. Over the next couple of decades they kept commissioning Robert McGinnis artwork in a variety of films much to the film goers delight.

He did more bond posters, stole the hearts of cult film goers with his Barbarella poster that immortalised Jane Fonda in that outfit.

Beyond the obvious appeal of the feminine charms, he often rendered a sequence or key 'money shots' into the poster almost like a static trailer montage.

Robert McGinnis (1926 -)

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Two Decades of Poster Art

Robert's heyday of poster art was in the sixties and seventies where he did Bond, several comedies, Blaxplotation films and even some saucy posters for some soft core titillation. He has been attributed to over 50 odd posters and there are sure to be more. It is hard to get a true number as there is no clear catalogues of his work.

It has only been with the renewed interest in his paperback art and paintings that the posters are becoming collectible and enthusiasts are starting to catalogue his efforts.

I've researched many on-line stores and sources to come up with fifty of his poster attributions spanning the sixties and seventies. I've put them on the table below ..They are a real mix of immensely popular to obscure, but always beautifully rendered and a pleasure to look at.

The Poster Art of Robert McGinnis

Themes across Genres

Robert McGinnis originally worked in Walt Disney Studios before the outbreak of war and learnt animation drawing Mickey and Donald and honed his craft at Ohio Art University. When the outbreak of war put of stop to animation studios temporarily he left and after the war joined an ad agency called Fredman-Chaite Studios illustrating many ad campaigns.

He did cover art for Dell publishers and went on to become the most popular and successful paperback cover artist ever.

His paintings of the feminine form are stunning to look at, beautifully drawn and his posters seem to follow this theme.However his way of rendering key scenes in the movies and anchor the poster in plenty of action is a style that is unique and instantly recognisable.

This style has served well for diverse range of films. Whether it was an action adventure like Bond or a comedy caper like Woody Allen's Sleeper. along the way he has done posters for Billy Wilder films ( Odd couple, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes) , some Burt Reynolds fare, Musicals ( Annie, Sweet charity) and some Blaxplotation films ( Cotton goes to Harlem) , McGinnis was there to provide the art.

Each one exquisite and full of little delights.

Arabesque

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BOND & BEYOND

The BOND Years

McGinnis was contacted by United Artists to deliver the concept art from thunderball along with artist Frank McCarthy.

The now classic Bond 'pose' is attributed to McGinnis as it appeared first in the Thunderball poster art. The artwork dominated billboards and hoardings and was displayed several storeys high at times Square.His Bond posters are iconic 60s and 70s masterpieces and fomr part of the graphic art renaissance of that era.

The exceptional artistry displayed in there composition, the dynamic pose and action, the attention to detail all make them worthy of admiration.

Thunderball: McGinnis

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McGinnis' last bond poster was for The Man with the Golden Gun ( I think) .. the subsequent artists however were largely influenced by his styling and composition. As you can see from Daniel Goozee's poster for Octopussy.

Billy Wilder, Lemmon and Matthau

McGinnis also did quite a few poster artwork for Billy Wilder films, and also Neil Simon films featuring the famous duo Walter Mattthau and Jack Lemmon in comedic farces.

The Odd Couple

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Matt Helm

In Dean Martin's comedic re imagining of the rough and tough Matt Helm series, McGinnis provided the artwork for the posters. 

These ' anti-bond' capers were played for laughs and spoofed the spy genre unlike the serious thrills of the novel series.

The silencers

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'Blaxpoitation'

The 70s blaxplotation films got an extra dose of colour with Robert McGinnis' artwork.

The 'hip' and 'cool' got hipper and cooler!

I wonder how big McGinnis sets his canvas for these painting as the facial detail and the colour are astounding.

Cotton goes to Harlem

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Scorpio

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Musicals

McGinnis provided the posters for the popular musicals 'Annie' and ' Sweet Charity' and 'Half a Six-Pence' and also gave an Elvis movie some glam.

Sweet Charity

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Naughty, Naughty

McGinnis is synonymous with sexy art and these posters have that naughty appeal.. Between 1974 and 1978 a company called Group 1 bought the rights to some European softcore films which enjoyed much B grade success in USA.

It is no doubt that some of the success could be attributed to posters designed by McGinnis for these films. However, the company decided to rehash some the poster designs and created a right mess by re-releasing one of the films ( The Teasers) under the title Sophomore Swingers but using a collage of the McGinnis poster for the film 'Teasers go to Paris'. This lead to 'widespread confusion understandably ( if you are into that sort of thing)!

You can also see how the poster art is a rehash of the earlier work for the Burt Reynolds 'classic' Semi Tough.

The Teasers go to Paris

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Woody Allen

Nobody does goofy like the wonderful Woody Allen in Sleeper and McGinnis' poster sums it all up nicely.

And Finally

Shane Black's underrated 2005 comedy noir 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' starring Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer ( I urge you to watch it if you haven't) is loosely based on a Mike Shayne pulp novel 'Bodies are where you find them' by Brett Halliday

Robert McGinnis used to do the covers for Mike Shayne paperbacks.

In one of the best in-jokes of them all, in the film, they refer to a Mike Shayne style 60s PI called Johnny Gossamer , who is a star of pulp thrillers and TV. In a delicious scene, one of the characters pulls out a few paperback from the shelf at a party. Much to the delight of paperback art fans who are 'in the know', the covers were remarkable mock ups of those old 60s style paperbacks and looked extremely authentic.

So they should, for these' mocked up' paperbacks were illustrated by none other than the grand master himself, Robert McGinnis. The Art director of the film specially commissioned these covers for that authentic 60s look.

I've shown the Original Paperback cover on which the film is based on and the four mock paperbacks from the film...

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The Talent

McGinnis, without doubt is a supreme artist deserving of wider recognition. Just because he did paperback covers, ads and movie posters doesn't take away the intensity of his talent.

His eye for colour, composition, lighting and detail are worthy of renaissance masters. I remain, forever, in awe of his talent. Everytime I look at a piece of art my McGinnis, that little boy who discovered those pulpy yet pictorially supreme paperback covers leaps within me.

Comments

Nelvia from Atlanta on November 09, 2020:

What a super retrospective article

KDuBarry03 on August 07, 2012:

I have always wondered who drew the early James bond pictures! What a great source of information. Thank you for sharing :)

Rich from Kentucky on August 07, 2012:

These are the movies and posters of my youth. How many times did teenage boys gaze at the women of these posters and wonder, "Where in the world can I find a girl like that?" (That lasted only as long as it took to get your date to the balcony seating, inside.) A tremendous artist and Hub! Great Job!

Nell Rose from England on August 07, 2012:

Hi Mohan, they are great aren't they? I remember seeing on the Antique Roadshow a while back, someone brought in a load of these to sell, I remember he said that he had more at home! wow! I wouldn't have got rid of them! great hub, cheers nell

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on March 12, 2012:

@David- Most internet movie poster archives list McGinnis as the illustrator for these movie posters- perhaps I need to double check the resources again to avoid giving inaccurate information. Your article is well authenticated. thanks for letting me know and sorry I missed your comment as I was away from home when it must have appeared.

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on March 12, 2012:

@Koffeeklatch - I agree he is a gifted artist with a very unique style . thanks for your comments.

Susan Hazelton from Sunny Florida on March 12, 2012:

Truly an amazing artist - I love his style. Terrific hub. Up and awesome.

David on September 03, 2011:

I am curious about where you got the info on the fact he produced Sugarland Express, Avanti, Sunshine Boys, The Wrecking Crew, Bingo Long Travelling all-Stars & Motor Kings, and Annie.

My own research and subsequent article did not uncover these, so before I am very keen to cross check your references before I add them to my list!

http://www.thevintagemovieposternetwork.com/articl...

Steve Lensman from Manchester, England on March 10, 2011:

A spectacular hub. Love that artwork. Well done.

dsmythe on February 24, 2011:

I love the vintage art work here. So cool!

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on February 23, 2011:

@Amy - thanks! He certainly deserves the recognition.

@toknowinfo- glad you enjoyed this... thanks for dropping by.

toknowinfo on February 23, 2011:

Wow great hub!

I never knew there was so much to know about posters. Thanks to your extensive and well put together hub, I know alot more. Glad you shared your knowledge. Rated up and awesome.

Amy Becherer from St. Louis, MO on February 06, 2011:

I got a kick and had to look twice to make sure I read the title of "Straighten Up and Die Right" correctly. Of course, the striking cover would get more attention than the title! I know it sounds ridiculous, but Robert McGinnis appears a typical, businessman sort, yet his paintings are of extraordinary women with the most beautiful faces and bodies. Although, he appears ultra conservative, in his time, he must have been viewed as very avant garde and risque...a playboy in his appreciation of the most extravagant, curvaceous, pin-up worthy beauties. Interesting, extremely well done tribute to an exceptional artist not readily recognized by the masses. Bravo and a standing ovation from me, Mohan!

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on February 06, 2011:

Thanks Erin, I find this incredible trend in hub pages where we stumble upon so much new information and make links to thinks we may only be partially aware of. This is my effort to comprehensively capture a relatively little known. ( outside the enthusiast's circle) artist to light. I am glad it is being seen and appreciated.

Erin LeFey from Maryland on February 06, 2011:

Thanks for the glimpse into the world of McGinnis. You're right, I've seen the posters but never would put it all together and the man is such a talent. Its an amazing collection you have gathered here! Namaste.

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on February 05, 2011:

@ Fossillady, MartieCoaster, jstankevicz and Genna .. thanks for dropping by to appreciate Robert Mcginnis' art. He deserves all the kudos!

Genna East from Massachusetts, USA on February 05, 2011:

This is wonderful, and an amazing collection of images of his work. Very nicely done, and intriguing at the same time.

jstankevicz from Cave Creek on February 04, 2011:

Great tribute to McGinnis. Awesomme artwork.

Martie Coetser from South Africa on February 04, 2011:

Since I can remember poster art mesmerized me. At a stage I collected posters although I was not allowed to hang it against the walls of my bedroom. Thanks for a lovely hub.

Kathi Mirto from Fennville on February 04, 2011:

Fascinating, specially like the James Bond posters and the images set to music! I like his statement that he painted what he liked and through his own visions!

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on February 04, 2011:

thanks Lynda, he is a great craftsman. A true master at work.

lmmartin from Alberta and Florida on February 04, 2011:

Not only is his artwork beautifully rendered, and wonderful ad copy, they serve as a reflections of those times. Great hub. Lynda

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on February 04, 2011:

@chspublish- Thank you for dropping by and your comments. Much appreciated!

chspublish from Ireland on February 04, 2011:

A great collection, a great tribute. Well done.

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on February 03, 2011:

Thank you, drbj, he is a great talent indeed.

drbj and sherry from south Florida on February 03, 2011:

What a talent McGinnis is! Amazing artwork and posters. Thanks for the intro, Docmo. Beautiful hub.

Mohan Kumar (author) from UK on February 03, 2011:

Thanks moncrief. I knew Robert McGinnis through his paperback covers ( related hub) and only recently came to know about his poster art. He is an underrated and unassuming maestro. You should see his paperback covers they are stunning.I kinda fell in love with the style and wanted to share it.

moncrieff on February 03, 2011:

I adore this kind of art and style, but to my shame I have never heard about this artist, or simply never paid attention. Great job and awesome illustrations!!!