Exodus
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| Poster Origin : | United States |
| Poster Size : | US 1 Sheet / 27 x 41" |
| Poster Artist : | Saul Bass |
| Poster Year : | 1961 |
| Poster Version : | First Release |
| Film Origin : | United States |
| Film Director : | Otto Preminger |
| Film Year : | 1961 |
This iconic design gives us a rare example of Saul Bass film poster artwork that combines his customary solid linework with photographic overlay. As one might expect from Bass there are several symbolic hints to the subject matter; the blue of the midnight sky against the white field becomes the flag for the new State of Israel, and the bold stencil typeface captures the military air, depicting the name emblazoned on the eponymous vessel. The moon in the centre recalls the story of the Book of Exodus when, on the night of the full moon, the Israelites began their original exodus from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.
The flames come from Bass’ own title sequence for the film, but a nice hidden gem here is the inclusion of letter-like shapes within the fire - more abstract shapes than actual words, the distinctive sweeping strokes of the Hebrew alefbet letterforms and cantillation marks appear in the upper reaches of the flickering flames.
Even as the flames devour the panel from below, the design’s rectangular boundary is faintly maintained by the credits along the bottom, like a scattering of fallen ashes.