They Live movie titles
They Live is among the best films that use typography for storytelling. The aliens are invading the earth, constantly sending subliminal messages to humans hidden in advertisements. Aliens themselves are taking over the planet on site, disguised as humans. The protagonists learn the truth after wearing a special pair of sunglasses that reveals the disguise.
The hidden messages are done in bold sans serif. Lettering in matte paintings are done by hand but props are using typefaces, either Tempo or Twentieth Century (despite one might think of Futura as primary example of geometric sans, it seems to never appear), or several unidentified condensed grotesques. The typography seems to reflect corporate advertising of the ’70s and ’80s, where strong bold sans was a common sight, and brilliantly ties into Carpenter’s commentary on consumerism.
The film opens and ends with Albertus, John Carpenter’s staple typeface. Titles and opticals by Pacific Title.
Twentieth Century Ultrabold
Twentieth Century
STAY ASLEEP is set in Tempo. OBEY is unidentified. Fonts In Use reader Robie notes that Classroom JNL by Jeff Levine is a match. This font wasn’t released before 2009, though.
Tempo
7 Comments on “They Live movie titles”
The ‘G’ suggests that the signs (“No independent thought”, “Consume”) indeed are in Twentieth Century Ultrabold. Tempo Black is different. Photo-Lettering, Inc.’s version of Twentieth Century was named Futura Graphic. It recently came up here.
“Consume” is indeed Twentieth Century (caption fixed), but I think “STAY ASLEEP” is set in Tempo, because there was another sample which appears to be set in Tempo (I did not upload it due to the six images limit). “THIS IS YOUR GOD” around 3:10 in this video:
Oh, I see! Thank you, Toshi. I have readded Tempo to the typeface credits and also appended an image for “THIS IS YOUR GOD” (Sh, the limit of six images is not a hard one, rather a recommendation).
The unidentified font in the image above of an open magazine which reads 'OBEY’ is 'Classroom JNL’ by Jeff Levine.
www.myfonts.com/fonts/jnlev…
Hi Robie, thanks for your comment! Classroom JNL indeed looks like a match. The catch is that this digital font was not released before 2009. It might be based on the same source, though. Levine writes:
I think the “OBEY” text might be set in Condensed Sans Serifs No. 1, which is what Classroom JNL id based on.
That’s a sensible suggestion, August. I don’t think it’s right, though. Condensed Sans Serifs No. 1 was a British foundry typeface produced in sizes up to 36pt. I’d rather expect something that was available in the US, and likely in wood. Also, (the largest size of) Condensed Sans Serifs No. 1 is distinguished by a B in which the lower bowl is clearly wider than the upper one and an E with a short middle bar. Neither is present in “OBEY”.
Classroom JNL is similar to Condensed Sans Serifs No. 1, but it’s not based on it. Jeff Levine says the inspiration was “a set of old die-cut cardboard letters and numbers used by teachers directly on bulletin boards or for tracing”.