Drew Struzan – Movie Poster Artist
Drew Struzan is still one of the film industry’s most recognised and celebrated movie poster artists. Born in 1947 he began producing movie posters while still in his teens and fondly remembers his first ever printed one being for the 1975 movie Black Bird.
His career like many was not such an illustrious beginning (more an illustrated one!) and he mainly started by producing posters for B Grade movies (B Grade science fiction movie poster collectors should probably keep an eye out for his 1976 poster for the movie ‘Food of the Gods or the following year his production for the movie ‘Empire of the Ants’).
One could say his big ‘break’ came in 1977 when he was asked to collaborate with fellow artist Charles White III who had been hired by Lucas to create a poster design for the 1978 re-release of Star Wars. White, well-known for his own airbrush prowess, was apparently uncomfortable with portraiture so asked Struzan for his help on the project. Struzan agreed and painted the human characters in oil paints and White focused on the ships, Darth Vader, C-3PO and all the mechanical details of the poster art.
The poster they produced is said to be one of George Lucas’ favourites, the rest as they say, is history…
Throughout the late ’70s and ’80s Struzan produced poster work for such films as Blade Runner, The Cannonball Run, the Police Academy series, Back to the Future, Coming To America, First Blood, Risky Business, D.C. Cab, Stroker Ace, An American Tail and many more. During this period, Struzan continued his association with Lucas by designing the original Industrial Light & Magic logo, and creating the associated one-sheet artwork for both the continuing Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones series of films.
On announcing his retirement in 2008 (!) he said “Having been working at not working has produced a guy who could never return to illustration again. It took a lot to attempt the idea of retiring from my 40 years of effort and sacrifice but now that I have, I am delighting in life as never before. I had forgotten how to rest, to smell the proverbial roses and to see the future as opportunity. I am grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to do all the work I did. I am well pleased to have been able to give a gift of beauty and peace through my artwork to so many throughout the world. Now I have laid down the burden and have peace and happiness as the reward for my day’s labor.”
His movie poster art still remains some some of the most sort after of the modern era.
Trivia: In the opening shot of the 2007 movie The Mist it features film posters of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series and The Thing (1982). All posters in the room at the beginning of the film were painted by Drew Struzan.
A list of some of Drew’s poster…
Animal Crackers
The Black Bird
Return to Macon Count
Car Wash
Food of the Gods
Futureworld
Harry and Walter go to New York
Killer Force
Robin and Marian
The Seven Percent Solution
A Small Town in Texas
Squirm
Tentacles
Empire of the Ants
Just a Little Inconvenience
Last Remake of Beau Geste
MacArthur
March or Die March or Die
Star Wars (1977 rerelease)
Thunder and Lightning
A Piece of the Action
High Ballin
The Norseman
Sextette
Tilt
Who is Killing the Great Chefs in Europe?
California Suite
C.H.O.M.P.S.
The Evictors
The Frisco Kid
Health Mathilda
Borderline
Caboblanco
Hotwire
Mother Lode
The Muppet Movie (A & B versions)
Oh, Heavenly Dog
Raise the Titanic
Those Lips, Those Eyes
All Night Long
The Cannonball Run
Fake Out
The Great Muppet Caper
Incubus
Kill Squad
The Legend of the Lone Ranger
Raiders of the Lost Ark
First Blood
I, the Jury
The Sting II (A & B versions)
The Thing
Champions
D.C.Cab
Eddie Macon’s Run
Heat and Dust
Hercules
The Pirates of Penzance
Return of the Jedi
Risky Business
Sahara (A & B versions)
Second Thoughts
Stroker Ace
To Be or Not To Be
Under Fire
Unfaithfully Yours
The Bear
The Cannonball Run II (A & B versions)
Dreamscape (Red & Blue versions)
Caravan of Courage – An Ewok Adventure
Harry and Son
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Johnny Dangerously
Police Academy
Return to Oz
Back to the Future
Better Off Dead (A & B versions)
The Goonies
Ladyhawk
Meatball’s III – A Summer’s Job
Police Academy II – Their First Assignment
Rocky IV
An American Tail (A, B, C & D versions)
Big Trouble in Little China
From Another Star
Jake Speed
The Name of the Rose
Police Academy III – Back in Training Weekend Warriors
Adventures in Babysitting
American Justice
Batteries Not Included*
Happy Hour
Hot Pursuit
Into the Fire
Masters of the Universe
Nadine The Outing (A & B versions)
Police Academy IV – Citizens on Patrol
Star Wars – The First Ten Years
Three O’clock High
After School (aka. Private tutor)
All’s Fair
Coming to America
The Experts
Moon Over Parador
Sunset
Back to the Future – Part II
Harlem Nights
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Shirley Valentine
Back to the Future – Part III
Ducktales – The Movie
Shipwrecked (aka. Hakon Hakonsen)
Taking Care of Busines
Hook
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Newsies
Stay Tuned Undercover Blues
Hocus Pocus
Hot Shots – Part Deux
We’re Back – A Dinosaur’s Story (A & B versions)
Angels in the Outfield
The Flintstones Lassie
Cutthroat Island
Mallrats Muppet
Treasure Island
Star Wars – Special Edition
The Empire Strikes Back – Special Edition
Return of the Jedi – Special Edition
Star Wars – Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Arabian Nights
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Galidor
Star Wars – Episode II – Attack of the Clones
The Crocodile Hunter – Collision Course
Hellboy
Abominable
The Shawshank Redemption
Star Wars – Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Blood Makes Noise
Torrente 3
The Green Mile (Director’s Cut)
Labou
Simon Says
Blade Runner – The Final Cut
The Mist
The Suit
Sexina
Popstar P.I.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (four variations)
Super Capers
The Walking Dead
Cowboys and Aliens
