This is an original, rolled Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1979 for Quadrophenia (さらば青春の光), Franc Roddam’s iconic British youth-culture drama inspired by (and built around) The Who’s legendary 1973 album of the same name. Starring Phil Daniels alongside Leslie Ash, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, and Sting, the film is one of the defining “Mod” movies ever made—equal parts social realism, music film, and coming-of-age tragedy.
Film background
Set in mid-1960s London, Quadrophenia follows Jimmy Cooper, a working-class teenager caught between family pressure, dead-end work, amphetamines, and the all-consuming identity of the Mod scene—tailored suits, Vespa/Lambretta scooters, and late-night club life. The story builds toward the famed Brighton clashes between Mods and Rockers, capturing the era’s style and swagger while stripping away any romanticism to reveal isolation, disillusionment, and the cost of living for a “tribe.”
Poster design
A classic Japanese campaign image that perfectly matches the film’s mood: Jimmy rides head-on through neon-lit night streets on his scooter, framed by long exposure light trails, with the crowd of Mods/Rockers inset like a memory or warning. The bold brush-style Japanese title さらば青春の光 (“Farewell to the light of youth”) hits across the lower half in urgent white, while the upper copy sells the film’s “young night warriors” energy. A terrific piece of late-’70s Japanese design for British cinema—gritty, atmospheric, and instantly recognisable to collectors of Mod culture and The Who.
Condition
Very Good. This poster was stored rolled and shows general handling wear consistent with age. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale. We have taken condition into account when pricing.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 45 years old!
Certificate of Authenticity included.
