"The Ladykillers", Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1955, Very Rare, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N242
This poster comes from a carefully kept private Japanese collection of 1950s–60s American cinema (including Rear Window 1954, Hammer and Disney). The archive was stored in the dark for decades, so most pieces—this one included—survive in unusually fresh condition.
This Japanese poster features art far superior to the U.S. release.
This is an original Japanese poster printed in 1955 by Towa (東和映画) for the first Japanese release of The Ladykillers (「マダムと泥棒」), Alexander Mackendrick’s Ealing-studios classic starring Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Katie Johnson, and Jack Warner, with music by Tristram Cary.
Printed for the film’s initial theatrical run, this scarce original B2（半裁）is sought after by collectors of Ealing comedies, Alec Guinness, and early Peter Sellers material—a superb mid-century paper piece now seventy years old.
Why this example is extraordinary (rarity & market)
Japanese B2s for The Ladykillers appear far less frequently than U.S. and British materials, and high-grade examples are especially elusive. Demand is driven by the title’s status as a pinnacle Ealing comedy and by the credited Japanese illustrator—artwork by Noguchi—which further elevates desirability among poster-art collectors.
Poster design
A moody painted scene by Noguchi: the masked, wide-eyed ringleader fills the upper right, brimmed hat cutting across a stormy sky; below, the gang scrambles around a lorry beneath rail gantries and signal ladders, capturing the caper’s dockside mischief. The English logotype “The Ladykillers” pops in yellow and pink, while the bold Japanese title 「マダムと泥棒」 anchors the base with a small “レディ・キラー” tag, and the Towa diamond mark sits at upper right. Cast and staff credits are rendered in crisp brush-lettered kanji and katakana, balancing text and image beautifully.
Condition
Excellent. Colors remain strong and saturated; paper retains great integrity. Please review the photos (front and back); they show the exact poster for sale.
Please also review the close up images!
It is over 70 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
