The Man with the Golden Gun 1974

Robert McGinnis made this poster for “The Man with the Golden Gun”, and it’s a masterclass in controlled chaos. The colours are bold, but not in a shouty way, more like a knowing wink. It’s all about catching your eye and pulling you into this world of spies and adventure. I love how McGinnis layers everything together. Look at how he uses the bodies and the golden gun to frame Roger Moore, front and centre. It’s a real push and pull between the flatness of the poster and the illusion of depth. The highlights on the golden gun create such an inviting texture, you can almost feel the cool metal on your skin. Then there’s the figures, almost bursting out of the frame. It reminds me a little of Saul Bass, another genius of graphic design, in that both artists knew how to distil a complex story down to its most essential, eye-catching elements. And just like any great piece of art, it leaves you with more questions than answers, which is exactly what a good movie poster should do.