“The Sand Pebbles” (砲艦サンパブロ), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1967, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) P11

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1967 for the first Japanese release of The Sand Pebbles (砲艦サンパブロ), Robert Wise’s epic drama starring Steve McQueen, set against the backdrop of 1920s China and rising anti-foreign unrest. The film first opened in Japan on 18 March 1967.

Cinema-used / theatre sticker 
What makes this example especially interesting is the large original cinema sticker still attached to the front—evidence this was used for theatrical display. The sticker reads D150 and promotes the D-150 system. It also names the venue Hankyu Plaza Theatre, notes 西日本独占ロードショウ (“West Japan exclusive roadshow”), and gives a date 7月3日 (July 3), plus location copy and the booking telephone number (as pictured). This kind of period, venue-specific sticker adds a genuinely “lived-in” exhibition history that many collectors find uniquely appealing.

Poster design
A bold, high-drama photomontage: McQueen’s intense, red-lit face dominates the composition, layered with river gunboat action, conflict imagery, and supporting character portraits. The Japanese title sits in huge blue typography across the bottom—an imposing, classic late-1960s Japanese campaign look, made even more distinctive by the surviving Hankyu Plaza / D150 sticker.

It is over 58 years old!

Condition
Very Good / Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.