Anatomy of Murder

Whilst researching my brief for Futurebrand I came across this poster for the film Anatomy of a Murder by aclaimed graphic designer Saul Bass.

The film itself is known as one of the poineering movies of the 1950s. It examines the different ways that humans view right and wrong and the consequence this has on jurisprudence.

Saul Bass is well known for his film title designs, especially for Hitchcock movies. He makes excellent use of composition in this piece of work, separating the credits from the title image using stark coloured boxes. The poster is so simple and displays echoes of Mondrian and High Art of that period. The most interesting part however is that of the title image, the type reversed out of the body, creates the impression of an imprint, as if it is the blood or shaddow of the victim rather than the actual corpse.