In 1946, he moved to Los Angeles, where he opened his own studio, Saul Bass Associates, in 1950. He continued working in advertising until Otto Preminger invited him to design a poster for the 1954 movie Carmen Jones. Preminger was so impressed with the poster that he asked Bass to do the film's title sequence too.
This work elicited commissions for more film titles: Robert Aldrich's The Big Knife and Billy Wilder's The Seven Year Itch, both in 1955. That same year, he did another project for Preminger, The Man with the Golden Arm, which established him as the reigning master of film title design.
Later examples of his brilliant work are Mike Todd's 1956 Around the World in 80 Days, Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo in 1958, North by Northwest in 1959 and Psycho in 1960, as well as Preminger's Anatomy of a Murder in 1959 and Lewis Milestone's original Ocean's 11 and Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus in 1960. In 1961 he did titles for Edward Dmytryk's Walk on the Wild Side, the poster and closing credits for Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise's West Side Story, and in 1966 he worked on John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix.
During the 1970s, Bass created corporate identities for companies such as United Airlines, AT&T, Minolta, Bell Telephone System and Warner Communications. He also designed the poster for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
He worked with Martin Scorsese on Goodfellas in 1990, Cape Fear in 1991, The Age of Innocence in 1993 and Casino in 1995.
Saul Bass died the next year. His New York Times obituary hailed him as "the minimalist auteur who put a jagged arm in motion in 1955 and created an entire film genre…and elevated it into an art."
Yesterday was the 93rd anniversary of Bass's birth, and the Google Doodle honored this influential artist by imagining the Google logo through his eyes. How many of the nine films that are referenced in the Doodle can you name? (Answers at the end of this post)
From designmuseum.org, csmonitor.com and slate.com
youtube.com
Answer to the Google Doodle quiz: Psycho, The Man with the Golden Arm, Spartacus, West Side Story, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Anatomy of a Murder, Ocean's 11, and Around the World in Eighty Days
He worked with Martin Scorsese on Goodfellas in 1990, Cape Fear in 1991, The Age of Innocence in 1993 and Casino in 1995.
Saul Bass died the next year. His New York Times obituary hailed him as "the minimalist auteur who put a jagged arm in motion in 1955 and created an entire film genre…and elevated it into an art."
Yesterday was the 93rd anniversary of Bass's birth, and the Google Doodle honored this influential artist by imagining the Google logo through his eyes. How many of the nine films that are referenced in the Doodle can you name? (Answers at the end of this post)
From designmuseum.org, csmonitor.com and slate.com
youtube.com
 |
| West Side Story poster wikipedia.org |
In 1958 architects Conrad Buff III, Donald C. Hensman and Calvin C. Straub designed Case Study House #20B, which was built for Saul Bass at 2275 Santa Rosa Ave in Altadena, California (not to be confused with #20A by Richard Neutra), as part of John Entenza's Arts & Architecture Case Study House Program.
 |
Case Study House #20B - Bass House
grainedit.com
|
 |
Case Study House #20B - Bass House
grainedit.com
|
 |
Case Study House #20B - Bass House
grainedit.com
|
Answer to the Google Doodle quiz: Psycho, The Man with the Golden Arm, Spartacus, West Side Story, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Anatomy of a Murder, Ocean's 11, and Around the World in Eighty Days
Dana you share the most fascinating information...now I HAVE to learn more about Mr. Bass!
ReplyDeleteBass was responsible for the posters or title sequences for many of my favorite films. His designs are some of the most memorable of the last half of the 20th century, I think. Let us know what else you find out about him.
DeleteWhat an incredibly talented guy, I'm totally in love with this! The west side story poster is amazing, end the end credits are stunning and moving, so in sync with the story. I've seen Psycho several times, but I couldn't remember how stylish the intro is!! And his house.... Don't even get me started, I LOVE it!! Thank you so much for this wonderful feature, Dana!
ReplyDeleteWest Side Story was one of my favorite films as a teenager, and that poster is one of my most vivid memories from that time. Bass's designs were inspired! And isn't that house amazing? It must have been incredibly exciting to live in something that was such a departure from the traditional design of the time.
DeleteDid you know that Saul Bass illustrated 'Henri walks to Paris'? It's beautiful. I think the grandsons would love it. Or, just keep it as a coffee table book for when they drag food over to your house!xo
ReplyDeleteI love all the Case Study Houses and their residents. Why is there not a similar commune for the likes of you and me?
No, I didn't know about that book. I'll have to look for it for the grandsons. They love for me to read to them. Thanks so much for telling me about it.
DeleteYou know, I often wonder why someone doesn't cash in on this mid-century revival and build a neighborhood full of new home from some of those old plans. As fast as modern homes built in the 50s and 60s sell around here, some builder could make a fortune doing that.
Fun post, Dana!
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of fun recalling all those films I loved so much back in the day.
DeleteMy favorite Saul Bass work is his 1958 graphic design for the poster of Hitchcock's "Vertigo."
ReplyDeleteThat was another great one. Reminds me of the Spirograph toys sold in the 60s.
DeleteGood one! I just looked him up. I can't believe he did the "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad World" poster too. Very distinctive style that I like very much. Learned something as usual on your blog. I think these posters would look great in frames.
ReplyDelete