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Small French movie poster for the 1968 action-adventure film titled
Le dernier train du Katanga, which is known in English-speaking markets as Dark of the Sun or The Mercenaries.
Movie Details
Release Year: 1968
Director: Jack Cardiff
Main Cast: Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux, and Jim Brown
Synopsis: Set during the 1964 Congo Crisis, the film follows a band of mercenaries led by Captain Bruce Curry (Rod Taylor). They are hired for a dangerous mission to travel by train through rebel-held territory to rescue a group of civilians and retrieve $50 million in uncut diamonds from a remote mine. The mission is a tough, raw action spectacle known for its hard-hitting action and scenes of violence, including the chainsaw duel depicted on the poster.
Original Novel: The film is based on the novel of the same name by Wilbur A. Smith.
Rating: The French poster indicates it was prohibited for those under 13 ("INTERDIT AUX MOINS DE 13 ANS"). The film was rated R in the United States and faced initial bans in several other countries due to its violent content. The artist for the iconic movie poster for
Dark of the Sun (known in French as Le dernier train du Katanga) is the American illustrator Frank McCarthy.
About the Artist
Frank McCarthy (1924–2002) was a highly regarded American artist and illustrator, known for his dynamic and action-packed art style.
He created poster art for over 100 films, often referred to as the "Action Artist" of Hollywood due to his specialization in scenes of movement and conflict.
In addition to Dark of the Sun, his notable works include movie posters for the James Bond films (like Thunderball and You Only Live Twice), The Dirty Dozen, and The Gauntlet.
The striking, painted style of the poster in your image is characteristic of McCarthy's work, which often featured dramatic compositions and a powerful use of color. |
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