Most folks have seen Casablancaso many times that, unless one happened to visit a theater in 1942, we don’t remember our first encounter with Rick and Ilsa.The film runs together as a nostalgic and romantic constant, a symbol for moviegoers everywhere of why we love the picture show.
In his newest series, Hollywood Stars, artist George Rodrigue pays tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood with unique, large-scale works on chrome featuring stars of the Silver Screen.
-click photos to enlarge-
(pictured, Play it again, Sam 2013 by George Rodrigue, archival ink on metal, 41×62 inches; each piece is unique)
The Hollywood characters played by these stars are larger than life and impervious to time.I thought of this recently as I read Kent Westmoreland’s detective novel Baronne Street* and slipped unwittingly into a Bogie accent as Burleigh Drummond, P.I. hunts the killer of his ex-girlfriend, Coco Robicheaux.The setting is New Orleans, 2000, yet the flavor, regardless of the wheels, is Casablanca, 1940:
“The T-Bird was probably the only thing I really cared about and definitely the only commitment I’ve ever made.” –Westmoreland, Baronne Street, 2010
Explains George Rodrigue:
“These movie stars were under contract with major Hollywood Studios, and their images, in most cases, were managed and promoted as characters associated with their films.”
Rodrigue’s Play it again, Sam depicts Rick and Ilsa who, ironically, never utter that most famous of movie lines.
“I use the Blue Dog on either side of the figures, indicating one as their Hollywood image and the other as the real person behind the myth. Just as the dog has two sides, so do these actors, their true self and their screen self.
“As an example, Marilyn Monroe is the Blue Dog screen image, while Norma Jean is her Red Dog real self.”
Hollywood Stars is a unique collection of artwork on metal, not to be confused with an edition.Although based on the images within this post, Rodrigue makes each piece individually on chrome, altering the images slightly by hand using silver paint, so that no two are identical.He then signs the finished works with his name and the notation “unique.”
(pictured, Some Like It Hot, 2013 by George Rodrigue, archival ink on metal, 41×62 inches; note, a version of this image is also available as a silkscreen print; details here-)
After all these years, I should know better than to ask George about his favorite from this or any series.Yet I wasn’t willing to accept his standard answer, “the painting I’m working on now,” and pushed him.
“Well, I wasn’t going to show you this ‘til it’s finished,” he grinned, “but I designed this one just for us.”
-for a related post see “Blue Dog at the Movies,” linked here– *Kent Westmoreland’s Baronne Street (2010) is an entertaining New Orleans read…..a fun ride through favorite restaurants, old neighborhoods, and NOLA stereotypes; more info here–
-for questions about Hollywood Stars, including price and availability, contact Rodrigue Studio–
-for more art and discussion, please join me on facebook–
7 thoughts on “Hollywood Stars”
First reaction: scroll down, scream with laughter, squeal that there is no one else with that much talent who also has a sense of humor. Second reaction: say, hey, wait a minute, this is a gorgeous painting, encapsulating so much history; whew!
Oh Patty, so perfect! Wait til you see what's coming. It kills me not to share it all at once. Here's a hint….. "Pillow Talk"!
Eyeballs just popped completely out of head!
Wendy,
First, great new work from George. His creativity is endless.
Thanks for the kind words about BARONNE STREET. Coincidentally Casablanca is one of my favorite movies. One of my goals when writing the novel was to keep the dialogue sharp and witty like in Casablanca.
The novel has another Bogart connection in that it is steeped in the tradition of the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. As you know, Bogart starred in the definitive film adaptions of their novels The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon.
Thanks again.
Kent
I read in your blog that your husband likes Rodin. Check this out, there is a very good video on the page showing the exhibiton. Hope you enjoy!
First reaction: scroll down, scream with laughter, squeal that there is no one else with that much talent who also has a sense of humor.
Second reaction: say, hey, wait a minute, this is a gorgeous painting, encapsulating so much history; whew!
Oh Patty, so perfect! Wait til you see what's coming. It kills me not to share it all at once. Here's a hint….. "Pillow Talk"!
Eyeballs just popped completely out of head!
Wendy,
First, great new work from George. His creativity is endless.
Thanks for the kind words about BARONNE STREET. Coincidentally Casablanca is one of my favorite movies. One of my goals when writing the novel was to keep the dialogue sharp and witty like in Casablanca.
The novel has another Bogart connection in that it is steeped in the tradition of the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. As you know, Bogart starred in the definitive film adaptions of their novels The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon.
Thanks again.
Kent
I read in your blog that your husband likes Rodin. Check this out, there is a very good video on the page showing the exhibiton. Hope you enjoy!
http://www.ncartmuseum.org/collection/rodin/
Loved watching Ilsa and Sam again. And oh, by the way, artwork on metal, LOVE IT!
I have always thought that Rin Tin-Tin would make a nice companion for Tiffany!
Scott
(a USL grad '72)