Ian Albinson over at the excellent artofthetitle.com got in touch with me the other day asking me to help identify the original artists and books that were used in the title sequence of the 2009 Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) Comedy “Gentlemen Broncos“. You can view a movie of the the whole sequence here: http://is.gd/dbKfK
In total of 24 books were used by production designer Richard A Wright in creating the title sequence, and I’ve included a small selection here. A few of the designs look familiar, but I must confess I don’t actually know for sure and wondered whether any readers can help out?
Some notes on the featured images:
Top: This looks either like a Frank Frazetta or possibly Peter Andrew Jones – not sure though!
2nd Top: I was thinking this has an echo of Peter Elson ? looks like a 70′s cover
3rd Top: A really well rendered painting, an older cover I think – early 60s’?
4th Top: This reminds me somewhat of StarWars concept artist Ralph Mcquarrie – late 70′s?
5th Top: No idea here! cool though…
6th Top: Again this looks slightly older – a 60′s cover?
7th Top: I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this one browsing through the extensive Flickr Sci-Fi-Books Pool but alas I didn’t favourite it.
Please do post a comment if you are familiar with any of the covers featured above or from the movie. Also, do make a point to check out Ian’s site – a superb read & inspiration resource: http://www.artofthetitle.com/
Finally here’s a link to the trailer for Gentlemen Broncos staring the excellent Sam Rockwell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdpFpfIBkXc
This guy and his readers (in the Comments section) were able to identify quite some of covers.
http://jhomunculus.blogspot.com/2010/03/some-special-puddingsthe-artwork-of.html
Apparently most are from the “Analog” and Astounding Science Fiction” magazines.
Some are not from real books at all.
e.g., one of them was made by an artist in the late 80s: http://www.davidleeanderson.com/cgi-bin/album.pl?photo=scifi/Shepard_Pilot.jpg
Aaaah Thanks for pointing this out, I should of done a bit more reading – Actually that is what thought but then I read the Production Designer had sourced all originals –
So all original Art, but not necessarily book covers… I’ll amend the post later
I knew only the Frank Kelly’s cover (5).
the last one is based on an Ace sci-fi single from 1967,
G-680 KENNETH BULMER Cycle of Nemesis (cover by Kelly Freas):
http://people.uncw.edu/smithms/Ace%20singles/sG-series/G-680.jpg
The last [Number 6] is I agree by Kelly Freas, but so is no. 3 [or it's a' copy'].
I don’t think no 1 is by either suggested [hard to tell from the image used], but it might be by J [Jeffrey] Jones, who did a lot of similar covers back in the late 60′s and early 7o’s, although his work tended to be a lighter ‘softer’ Frazzeta pastice, but there was a period when he nearly ‘matched’ the style of Frank Frazetta.
No 2- Peter Elson? I don’t think so – The artist, who is similar in manner to the Alan Aldridge SF covers from the 70′s, Is a style I recognise [I have a paperback with that art style in my collection, but can I find It!].
Hey Russ, Gary & Li-an thanks for the comments!
Yeah I think I’ve showed up my knowledge (or lack of it here!) for a few wild guesses!
Aaah well anyway even if most of the covers aren’t strictly authentic they do might a nice set, and moreover an excellent Title Sequence!
** Russ I’m going to link to your blog shortly….
do you think they payed the rights to use these artworks?
A couple years ago I have been contacted by the production of “gentlemen broncos” to use my “invading the vintage” artworks in the titles but as soon as I answered (very happy) talking about rights, usage and fees they vanished and never wrote me again. Too bad…
Hey Franco,
That’s pretty Cool! them getting in touch, shame nothing came of it
I presume they must of cleared the rights to use these images, whether or not they paid for them, or just were able to use them anyway I’m not sure…. you’d definitely like to think so money went some where for the work….
Kieran
Yeah… I was so happy when they contacted me, I loved Napoleon Dynamite a lot. I cant wait to see this new movie anyway… I just saw some previews… I hope it will arrive here at least on dvd.
bye
I also have to say that their idea of using existing vintage bookcovers is better and fantastic!
franco
Pretty sure the second from the top is not Peter Elson, – too much airbrushing for him – if anything it reminds me either of Peter Goodfellow, or perhaps Adrian Chesterman.. although neither of them feel quite right for the artwork either.
The 2nd from the top is The Venom Of Argus by Richard Avery from 1976.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42132822@N03/4252208348/in/pool-22742217@N00/
Whoops late to the patrty. Yeah the last one is Freas, also my Flickr avatar!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21631299@N07/2097234182/in/set-72157603663873833/
hi great blog, I found this website that maybe of interest
http://the-scifi-portfolio.com
cheers Toby, and thanks for the link – some pretty cool paintings there, I’ll add to my resource pile