VISUAL

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
- 3rd century BC Greek Proverb

Some films like good wine age well. A century old industry that was at best considered as a minor form of social entertainment has lasted the test of time and is now ranked as an Art Form by itself. Certainly a Collective Art Form in that it is not reduced to one person but is indebted to the collective effort of talents that try to render the film director's vision. Undoubtly the film poster is the Cherry on the Cake that every film director, actor or film crew looks up to. It represents the ultimate accomplishment of a collaboration that awaits critical or public approval.

I have often wondered what happened to all the good old vintage posters of some of those great classic Iranian films some of which may have been lost for ever. Have any ever survived in some basement or backyard of a former cinema manager or movie buff ? These items are certainly part of our social history and deserve to be collected, gathered and displayed in a film museum or gallery as is the case for much of the film art and memorabilia that are conserved in Europe and the US. Since my student years I have been interested in Art books on films. They have become a very popular form of publication in the last 20 years. They have also become much more affordable than they were in the beginning.

As a film buff, I love to display them in my library not just by fetishist obsession but mostly as a film historian for historical and Artistic reference. Its always a pleasure to look through some of the stills of black and white or color photos from the golden Hollywood years or look for feedback on French classic and New Wave Cinema, Italian Neo-Realism or German Expressionist films. It is a literature which is enhanced by visual history and teaches us a great deal on all aspects of a profession that continues to dig in on its own past in order to perpetuate its own Legend.
It was a happy coincidence that made me notice a recurrent name in such publications. I was doing some personal research on how Hollywood film fashion and the American Way of Life had influenced Persian Society particularly in the 50's and 60's. It was for an article on American Soprano Monika Jalili and her Noorsaaz Band who have revived ( and translated from Persian) some of the great music score's of Iran's Pre-Revolution classic movies. I thus came across a book precisely on one of Hollywood's quintessential icon's of the swinging sixties: Audrey Hepburn the Paramount Years by Tony Nourmand.

After doing my research I decided to give him a call and discovered a fascinating personality whose childhood passion for films accidentally turned him into one of the World's most respected connoisseurs of Hollywood Vintage posters and co-owns The Reel Poster Gallery in Nottinghill which he co-founded with Bruce Marchant back in 1991. Audrey Hepburn the Paramount Years (Boxtree) is Nourmand's 14th book. His books, which are still in print, have sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. I had an opportunity to speak to Tony Nourmand who shared his views and interests with me.

TN: This is a difficult question and it is very hard to pinpoint down to a particular genre. There are imaginative and interesting designs in all genres, but if you had to pin me down, I would say that the most creative posters come from Eastern Europe in the 50, 60s and 70s, where the artists were given complete freedom to interpret the film and express themselves.

DK: Were there major differences between Posters distributed in the US and those in Europe for the same Hollywood film?

DK: As a movie enthusiast, do you also have any knowledge or interest in Iranian films and posters? Do you have any rare posters from before the Revolution? Did any survive?

Unfortunately, I have never been able to track down original Iranian posters for these films. As far as I know, the posters that are on exhibit in the Tehran Museum of Film are American or European posters for Iranian films. I would love to find the originals. I do buy posters for Iranian films that I like whenever I come across them.

DK: What advice would you give to anyone who wants to purchase a film poster of some value?

TN: I would take my partner Roxanna, a DVD player, DVDs and an endless supply of good food.

Quick facts:

Full Name: Tony Nourmand

Born In (city & date): Tehran, 1965

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Dish: a good plate of Spaghetti

Favorite Drink: Vodka

Favorite Film: Chinatown

Languages: In order of competency: English, Farsi
Currently Reading: A biography on director Francis Ford Coppola
Currently Writing: "The Unofficial Godfather in Pictures" (out October 2007)

Author's notes:
Official Website: The Reel Poster Gallery
Tony Nourmand's books are available at amazon.com

Recommended Readings :

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