Tres Invencibles Samurais - Nico 1969

Here's a great poster for the 1964 Japanese film Three Outlaw Samurai (Sanbiki No Samurai) featuring wandering warrior Shiba defending the poor from the evils of the taxman. The playful artwork by Nico is typical of good silkscreen printing - using a few bold colours and simple shapes to create a bold and colourful design. The typography is typical of the late 60s and as usual with Cuban posters when the words don't fit on a single line they carry on to the next.

Senales Sobre la Ciudad - Nico 1969

Senales Sobre la Ciudad (Signali Nad Gradom or Signal over the City) is a 1960 Yugoslavian film about a rescue mission to save a member of the resistance during the second world war. Nico's playful imagery features the traditional helmet of the officers and colourful pop art graphics to illustrate the drama of the military operation.

Gigi - Nico 1969

Gigi is a sumptuous American musical set at the turn of the century. Its commentary on the lives of the wealthy and priveledged must have appealed to the Cuban authorities. This 1969 poster by Nico takes the best of San Francisco poster design and adds an art nouveau twist to present a simple but effective image.

No Somos De Piedra - Nico 1969

Here's a simple and effective colourful poster from Nico for the 1968 Spanish comedy No Somos de Piedra (We are not made of Stone) which examines traditional gender roles within the Catholic chuch. The plot revolves around the use of birth control pills and looks at the financial impact of children born through unplanned pregnancies. Hence the solitary female subject of the poster positioned in insecure pose, with the title positioned in the womb.

Illuminacion Intima - Nico 1968

Illuminacion Intima (Intimate Lighting or Intimni Osvetleni) is a classic of the Czech New Wave from 1965 and focuses on life in a small village where music is a preoccupation. Through a number of loosely connected comedy scenes the men of the film neglect their wives due to their obsession with music. This is another confident and colourful silkscreen from Nico.

Golgota - Nico 1968

Golgota is a Romanian film from 1966. And that is all I know about it. Nico's 1968 poster for the ICAIC is great but doesn't give much away about the film.

Crimenes Sin Castigo - Nico 1969

Crimenes Sin Castigo (Crimes Without Punishment) is, I think, a 1966 Japanese film Nihon Rhetto that focuses on corruption and black market activities among the American army based in Japan. This would explain the 1969 poster's dollar signs and the use of figures that appear trapped within the framework of currency. By all accounts the film is a bit crap but the poster is nice. Another bold design from Nico.

El Gallo De Oro - Nico 1969

El Gallo De Oro (The Golden Rooster) is a 1964 Mexican film about cock fighting. The text on the poster is typical Bachs, with his trademark style but the crazy colours and cartoonish graphical interpretation of the subject matter in this case is by Nico. The image is clearly of roosters, presented with a touch of Picasso. Nico manages to capture the aggression of fighting roosters in a crazy cartoon aesthetic. A nice poster from 1969.


Here's a musical number from the film: