Dead Presidents Film Poster
From $30.00
- All Australian orders for Art are Hand Made in Noosa, Australia (*International orders are printed overseas)
- We use 100% Cotton, textured canvas NOT the cheaper plastic looking, Poly-Cotton
- Free image manipulation such as removing red-eye, straightening horizons and lightening the image if needed
- Art is delivered ready to hang on the wall, straight to your door
- Carefully bubble wrapped and boxed to prevent damage in transit
- Free choice of 6 wrapping types
- Every canvas print is stretched by hand on a thick, 1.5” quality kiln-dried pine wood stretcher frame
- Protected with invisible spray UV laminate against fading in the harsh Australian climate, our art shouldn’t fade for up to 70 years!
The Canvas Prints Perth Difference
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Dead Presidents was a 1995 crime drama film directed by Albert and Allen Hughes, who were already known for their debut feature Menace II Society. The film followed the story of Anthony Curtis, a young African American man from the Bronx, who returned from serving in the Vietnam War to find a society that had drastically changed in his absence. Struggling to reintegrate into civilian life, Anthony faced economic hardship, racial inequality, and a growing sense of disillusionment. These experiences ultimately led him and a group of friends to plan a daring and dangerous armed robbery, marking a powerful shift from patriotic soldier to embittered outlaw.
The film was notable for its stark portrayal of the psychological and social effects of war on young veterans, particularly African Americans. While it did contain action and heist elements, Dead Presidents was grounded in a broader narrative of systemic failure and alienation. The movie painted a grim picture of post-war America in the 1970s, shedding light on issues such as PTSD, unemployment, and the neglect faced by Vietnam veterans. Through its unflinching storytelling and compelling character arcs, the film offered a raw and emotional critique of both the war and the society that had sent these young men to fight.
The visual style of Dead Presidents was particularly striking. The Hughes Brothers employed a gritty, almost documentary-like aesthetic for the scenes set in the Bronx, which was contrasted with more stylised, tense sequences during the Vietnam War. One of the most iconic aspects of the film was the face paint worn by the characters during the robbery—a chilling white mask with blackened eyes and lips that referenced both war camouflage and symbolic rebellion. This imagery became one of the most enduring visuals associated with the film and was often used in promotional materials and artwork, including the widely recognised movie poster.
Over the years, Dead Presidents has become a cult classic, praised for its bold direction, socially conscious themes, and strong performances, particularly by Larenz Tate in the lead role. While it may not have achieved blockbuster status at the time of release, the film has endured as an important entry in 1990s American cinema, especially within the genre of urban drama. The film’s title itself, slang for money bearing the faces of U.S. presidents, cleverly tied together its themes of economic desperation, lost ideals, and the cost of survival in a world where loyalty and honour often went unrewarded.
