Art of the Day: “The Gaucho”

There is so much to love in the 1927 action film, The Gaucho: a lively, funny performance by Douglas Fairbanks, a fiery turn by Lupe Velez, who reminds us that she was a great actress before she became a gruesome punchline. That color sequence, those amazing technical innovations. Once derided, now recognized as a masterpiece, as well as an over-the-top hoot.

Not least among its pleasures, this wonderful poster by some anonymous artist, the kind of thing that could stand on its own even if there were no movie to advertise.

Just look at this.

One other thing: Don’t smoke, kids. But sometimes, in art, smoking is cool. And it’s Douglas Fairbanks smoking, back in 1927. He’d be dead now anyway.