Diorama Artist as a Career Choice?

[hlywdkjk]

So, I read that in the new film *Dinner For Schmucks*, Steve Carell is a diorama artist - either as a career or as a hobby - using, of all things, dead mice. I am sure this "talent" is meant to make him a pathetic, pitiful man. See below -

 

 

 

But there once was a time when one could be a "diorama artist" and have a successful and noteworthy career. And you got to work at the greatest film studio in the world.

 

 

src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4846415215_9ff4c83e46.jpg" width="377" height="500" alt="HonkyTonk" />

***** Tonk*

 

At MGM, artist Jacques Kapralik created diorama-esque still-lifes to be used as promotional materials for the films and the stars of the studio.

 

 

alt="KapralikCourtshipAndyHardy" />

*The Courtship Of Andy Hardy*

 

 

src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/4847681713_ceaa3c3ddb.jpg" width="418" height="500" alt="PanamaHattie_Kapralik"

 

/>

*Panama Hattie*

 

Often the creations (using felt, paper and miniature objects) were only meant for "inside the industry" types of promotional ads in magazines or other materials...

 

 

alt="Copy of HeraldArtwork03_MaytimeKapralik" />

*Maytime* Herald

 

 

src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/4846448647_84a30431fa.jpg" width="402" height="500" alt="KarpalikCover02" />

Cover for MGM's In-House Publication (1942)

 

 

src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/4847680949_bfe257392f.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="RandomHarvest" />

*Random Harvest*

 

...but the work did make it into posters too.

 

 

src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/4847715845_84a3af9a20_b.jpg" width="450" height="679" alt="BestFootForward1943"

 

/>

 

For a Gallery of Kapralik creations in larger sizes, click here -

 

 

and visit here

http://www.drawger.com/kroninger/?article_id=7885

 

Enjoy!

 

And Steve Carell, eat your heart out.

 

Kyle In Hollywood

 

Edited by: hlywdkjk on Jul 31, 2010 8:37 PM

[lzcutter]

Chief,

 

These are absolutely beautiful! Where did you find them?

 

But most of all, thank you for sharing them!

[DownGoesFrazier]

"Diorama". Now there's a word I haven't heard since elementary school.

[Poinciana]

Yes, ditto thanks for those pics! How I envy artists.....

 

My Mother used to take me to the LA County Museum of Natural History at Exposition Park when I was little. How I loved the Diorama Halls with all the stuffed critters. Just loved being there in the dark being bowled over by the exhibits.

 

I couldn't find much in the way of pics on Google, but here's the African animal diorama at the museum as an example of one of the incredible dioramas at the museum:

 

http://www.seeing-stars.com/imagepages/NaturalHistoryMuseumPhoto2.shtml

[JackFavell]

Ah, I LOVE the Greer and Ronnie ones and the Clark and Lana one. Just superb!

[hlywdkjk]

I recently found a bunch more of these Kapralik "Still-Life" promotional pieces for MGM films of the 40s. Thought I'd go ahead and add them to this thread.

 

But this time I'm letting you all figure out what films the artwork is promoting. Some are more than obvious. But others, not so easy.

Have fun.

 

 

src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5277/5858662423_d1187240e0_z.jpg" width="484" height="640" alt="Copy of 007">

 

 

src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5858664161_ed477f98f1_z.jpg" width="475" height="640" alt="Copy of 005">

 

Edited by: hlywdkjk on Jun 22, 2011 8:55 AM

[smileys]

Thanks for putting a name to the images! I'd seen a bunch of MGM promos over the years, but never knew who did them. Sorry I missed the thread the first time around.

[hlywdkjk]

You're welcome 'smileys'. Glad you found the thread this time around.

 

-----------------------

 

I recently found a bunch more of these Kapralik "Still-Life" promotional pieces for MGM films of the 40s.

Thought I'd go ahead and add them to this thread.

 

But this time I'm letting you all figure out what films the artwork is promoting. Some are more than obvious. But others, not so easy.

Have fun.

 

 

[hlywdkjk]

I recently found a bunch more of these Kapralik "Still-Life" promotional pieces for MGM films of the 40s.

Thought I'd go ahead and add them to this thread.

 

But this time I'm letting you all figure out what films the artwork is promoting. Some are more than obvious. But others, not so easy.

Have fun.

 

 

[filmlover]

"Strike Up the Band" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

 

"I Love You Again" and "New Moon"

 

"Escape" and "When Ladies Meet"

[hlywdkjk]

 

[hlywdkjk]

 

[lzcutter]

*Pancho Villa* with Wally Beery and *Waterloo Bridge* with Leigh and Taylor.

 

Chief,

 

These are beautiful!

 

Is the one with Myrna in the chic little hat from *The Thin Man* ?

[hlywdkjk]

*"Pancho Villa with Wally Beery ..."* - lzcutter

 

Not unless the film was also known as *Pancho Villa*. I've a different title.

 

*"Is the one with Myrna in the chic little hat from The Thin Man?"*

 

Nope. Remember, there are for MGM films from the 40s.

 

Glad you are enjoying them.

 

Kyle In Hollywood

[filmlover]

Kyle,

 

I didn't see a reply to my guesses yesterday. Were they all correct?

 

If so, I'd like to step in here after lz and say today's are:

 

"No Time for Comedy" and "Waterloo Bridge"

 

"The Bad Man" and "Love Crazy"

[hlywdkjk]

*"I didn't see a reply to my guesses yesterday. Were they all correct?"* - filmlover

 

Yes. Your answers to the first three postings were the correct titles.

 

 

*"No Time for Comedy" and "Waterloo Bridge" & "The Bad Man" and "Love Crazy"*

 

Nope. You've got one wrong in each pair.

 

Here's the Kapralik creation for *Love Crazy*.

 

[filmlover]

Then instead of No Time for Comedy, Come Live With Me.

 

And instead of Love Crazy, Shadow of the Thin Man. I know that lz said Thin Man, but that kooky hat was made fun of in the later film. Sigh, or else it is just another one from I Love You Again and Kyle is enjoying himself.

[smileys]

Sheesh! I can't get the images to load more than the top 10%, so I can't play until my dialup returns to normal. :-(

[hlywdkjk]

*"Then instead of No Time for Comedy, Come Live With Me."* - filmlover

 

Well, you got _that_ one right. (Can't believe you thought that was supposed to be Roz Russell in the image.)

 

But you're still not right about the other one. The answer is right there in the picture.

 

Kyle In Hollywood

[hlywdkjk]

*"Sheesh! I can't get the images to load more than the top 10%, so I can't play until my dialup returns to normal."* - smileys

 

I'm sorry. Some of these images are quite large, digital-wise.

If they just "stall" when loading, try right-clicking on the partially loaded pic and choose "Show Picture". Hopefully you can get the images to load one at a time that way.

 

It also helps if one's cache isn't emptied after browsing session so that the complete images stay in your history and don't need to reload themselves each time you come to the thread.

 

I'll also see about uploading smaller files.

 

Kyle In Hollywood

[filmlover]

D'oh! I thought that was supposed to be William Powell. My error! (or the artist's -- ; p)

 

"Third Finger, Left Hand"

[hlywdkjk]

*"D'oh! I thought that was supposed to be William Powell. My error! (or the artist's...)"* - filmlover

 

I think the blame lies with you. Kapralik is very good with William Powell caricatures. See *Love Crazy* and *I Love You Again*.

And you mistook Hedy for Roz. There aren't many that can claim to have done that before. (Or admit to it! )

 

Congrats on getting the film title right.

 

Kyle In Hollywood

[lzcutter]

Chief,

 

My bad, make that *Viva Villa* not *Pancho Villa*. Not enough caffeine this morning.

 

Sorry.

[filmlover]

Sorry, lz, it's The Bad Man as I mentioned a few posts below. He plays Pancho Lopez (see wanted poster).

[hlywdkjk]

*"My bad, make that "Viva Villa" not "Pancho Villa"."* - lzcutter

 

Well, either way, that's not right. 'filmlover' got it right when he posted *The Bad Man*.

 

Kyle In Hollywood