Platoon
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| Poster Origin : | United States |
| Poster Size : | US 1 Sheet / 27 x 41" |
| Poster Artist : | Larry Lurin |
| Poster Year : | 1986 |
| Poster Version : | First Release |
| Film Origin : | United States |
| Film Director : | Oliver Stone |
| Film Year : | 1986 |
One of the few Platoon posters from around the world that doesn’t feature the powerful image of the stricken Sgt. Elias, imploring the heavens in desperate supplication.
Many Vietnam films harboured anti-government sentiments; here the fallen helmet carries an angry statement of social discontent, and the CND peace symbol infers the pacifist beliefs of many conscripts. The use of dogtags to represent the double-O in the title is dangerously close to a gimmick, which, for a film of such sobriety wouldn’t normally be a wise choice, although dogtags are synonymous with death on the battlefield (often the only means of identifying a disfigured body) so this particular case does have gravitas.
Usually attributed to Bill Gold himself as it was produced in his advertising studio, it is more likely the work of another designer (some sources attribute Larry Lurin). In any case, it is heavily inspired by the work of Saul Bass. So much so, it is one of the most frequently mistaken posters to be wrongly attributed to Bass. While the actual designer must rue the lack of recognition for his efforts, the fact that his work is being mistaken for that of such an exalted designer is hopefully of some consolation.