Friday's Top 5... Posters of the 1950s

#5: 12 Angry Men
The tagline is a bit on the melodramatic side, but the artwork itself is great, showing the jurors divided by the murder weapon and then the solitary shot of Henry Fonda at the bottom. It really manages to encapsulate the spirit of the film.


#4: Anatomy of a Murder
There's nothing fancy about this poster - no photos of stars, no ornate design, no tagline - it's mostly just blank space. However, its simplicity is intriguing and is the very thing that makes it so memorable.



#3: War of the Worlds
Generally speaking, '50s era science fiction films have great posters and this one is no exception. Its nightmarish vision of alien invasion perfectly sets the tone for a dark and intense story.



#2: Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
Has any poster ever more perfectly captured society's attraction/repulsion to female sexuality? Sure, she's scantily clad and straddling a highway, but she's also leaving a trail of destruction behind her. Exquisite.



#1: Vertigo
This is another instance where simplicity is the most effective way to go. Its spiralling design grabs you and draws you right in. It's a beautiful piece of work.