Inspiration for Civilization cover: Stephen Boyd as Messala in "Ben-Hur"; Alec Guinness as Marcus Aurelius in "The Fall of the Roman Empire"; Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra
The BenHur image is incredibly like the Civ picture down to the patterns on the helmet. The other 2 have a strong resemblence. So I think you must be on to something.
I didn´t make an exhaustive image searching, but I´m totally sure that the artist got the cover from the three films. Maybe by watching "Cleopatra" and "The Fall of the Roman Empire" you could find the exact movie still where Taylor´s and Guinness´ drawings came from. Or maybe in the case of "Cleopatra" the artist only took the idea from the film and drew freely from it... I think pictures were just an inspiration for the artist to a lesser or bigger extent.
Err, well, "inspiration" is a very smooth term here. Damn.
I think it has sense that, if the artist took the idea of the Boyd and Guinness characters from two classic movies, the other one also comes from another classic film, hasn´t it?
I'm so pleased my coverart for Avalon Hill's "Civilization" (1980's) was inspiring to some, and brings back many good memories for others. I hope you all enjoy the game, as I have ;-)
You might also note my 1980's cover art for Yaquinto's "Swashbuckler" inspired by the classic Errol Flynn movies, or my cover art for Yaquinto's "French Foreign Legion" inspired by the "Beau Geste" movie, etc.
All artists are inspired by other artists – since the beginning.
Have you noticed how so many movies are inspired by other movies?
We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.
All the Best,
Rodger
P.S. If you do enjoy my artwork, please visit my new web "RBM Art Gallery" located at my C3i Magazine support website www.c3iopscenter.com
The current RBM Art Gallery display features my ten years of artwork for Avalon Hill from "Squad Leader" to "Civilization".
I'm so pleased my coverart for Avalon Hill's "Civilization" (1980's) was inspiring to some, and brings back many good memories for others. I hope you all enjoy the game, as I have ;-)
I sure did, Rodger! By the way, is she or isn´t she Elizabeth Taylor? I think it´s obvious, but some people seem to doubt it. You´re the most indicated person to clarify this...
> By the way, is she or isn´t she Elizabeth Taylor?
Hi Luis,
No, she is not Elizabeth Taylor. The beautiful woman I painted on the cover of the AH “Civilization” game in 1980 was modeled after the film actress Rita Gam.
Rita Gam began on Broadway and in television, after which she moved on to films, appearing first in the 1952 film noir The Thief, then Night People (1954), Sign of the Pagan (1954), Magic Fire (1955), Sierra Baron (1958), Hannibal (1959), King of Kings (1961), No Exit (1962), and Klute (1971).
She is a Golden Globe-nominated actress for The Thief (1952), and winner of the Berlin International Film Festival Award for No Exit (1962). She was featured on the cover of LIFE Magazine (Sept 15, 1952). She was married to director Sidney Lumet. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1928).
Isn’t it amazing how much information (above) you can find on the web ;-)
Alec Guinness starred in so many great films, yet he´s mostly remembered by one he never liked!
