“Annie Hall” (アニー・ホール), Original First Release Japanese Movie Poster 1978, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) ZA739

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1978 for the first Japanese release of Annie Hall (アニー・ホール), the landmark romantic comedy-drama directed by Woody Allen and starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, and Tony Roberts.

Widely regarded as one of the defining American films of the 1970s, Annie Hall transformed the modern romantic comedy through its wit, formal invention, and emotional intelligence. It remains the film most closely associated with Woody Allen’s early peak as a filmmaker, and one of Diane Keaton’s most iconic screen performances. The film’s enormous critical success is prominently acknowledged on this Japanese poster, which celebrates its victory in four major Academy Award categories. This example is in excellent condition, and the design is among the most elegant and appealing Japanese campaign posters produced for the film.

Film background
Released in the United States in 1977 and in Japan in 1978, Annie Hall follows New York comedian Alvy Singer as he reflects on his relationship with the warm, eccentric, and irresistibly individual Annie Hall. Rather than proceeding as a conventional romance, the film unfolds through memory, digression, fantasy, direct address, and self-analysis, creating a work that is at once deeply funny and unexpectedly poignant.

The film is widely seen as a watershed in American screen comedy. It moved beyond the structure of the conventional gag-driven farce and introduced a more personal, psychologically nuanced mode of storytelling. At the 50th Academy Awards, it won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Diane Keaton, and Best Original Screenplay—a sweep that helped secure its place in film history. It also left a significant mark on fashion and visual culture, with Keaton’s menswear-inflected wardrobe becoming one of the most influential style signatures of the era.

Poster design
The Japanese poster presents a highly distinctive and sophisticated layout. The upper half is dominated by a large warm-toned monochrome portrait of Diane Keaton, shown looking downward with a gentle, introspective expression. Her styling—collared shirt and tie—immediately evokes the character’s now-iconic look and gives the image its unmistakable identity.

At lower left appears a full-colour figure of Woody Allen, casually posed in jacket and glasses, smiling with characteristic unease and self-awareness. Along the lower edge, a small beach vignette shows a tiny seated couple by the water, quietly reinforcing the film’s themes of memory, distance, and emotional reflection.

The vertical red Japanese copy beside Allen captures the melancholy-romantic tone of the film, while the title 「アニー・ホール」 is rendered prominently across the lower centre in a sharp, elegant red script. At the bottom, a bold red awards banner announces the film’s four Academy Awards, giving the sheet both historical context and strong period appeal. The overall effect is refined, emotionally resonant, and unmistakably late-1970s in its graphic sensibility.

Release note
This poster was printed for the film’s original 1978 Japanese theatrical release.

It is an original period Japanese theatrical poster, not a later reproduction or commercial reprint.

Condition
Excellent condition. A very attractive example, with strong colour, clean paper, and excellent overall display presence.

Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.

This is an original 1978 Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is now over 45 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.