“Lost Continent” (失われた大陸), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1956, Leonardo Bonzi / Enrico Gras / Giorgio Moser, B2 Format (c. 51 × 73 cm) — U29
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for the 1956 Japanese release of Lost Continent, originally titled Continente Perduto. Released in Japan as 失われた大陸 (Ushinawareta Tairiku) on 5 May 1956, the Italian documentary combines expedition filmmaking with the visual appeal of widescreen colour photography.
Directed by Leonardo Bonzi, Enrico Gras, and Giorgio Moser, with cinematography led by Mario Craveri, the film explores landscapes, communities, and traditions across Southeast Asia, including Borneo, Java, and Bali. It received the Special Jury Prize at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival, an achievement prominently advertised across the poster’s upper edge.
Printed on one B2 sheet, the design brings together richly coloured photographic imagery and bold promotional lettering. A large image of a man climbing a tree dominates the left side, framed by dense tropical foliage. Below him, two Balinese dancers wear elaborate golden headdresses and richly patterned costumes, their fans and carefully arranged gestures adding intricate detail to the composition.
To the right, a long boat crowded with paddlers crosses the water above a small map of Southeast Asia. These images reinforce the film’s expedition setting, while the substantial Japanese explanatory text presents the journey as both an educational experience and a theatrical spectacle.
The oversized yellow CinemaScope logo on black commands the upper section. At the foot, the Japanese title 「失われた大陸」 stretches across the sheet in vivid red brush-style lettering. The original Italian title appears in red above the water, accompanied by the Ferraniacolor credit. Multicoloured 「総天然色」 lettering further emphasises the colour presentation.
The prominent vertical tagline reads:
「シネマスコープが遂に征服した長篇記録映画の決定版！映画史上不滅の大金字塔！」
“CinemaScope’s ultimate achievement in feature documentary filmmaking! An enduring landmark in cinema history!”
The combination of tropical imagery, festival recognition, and conspicuous widescreen branding makes this an appealing example for collectors of Italian documentary cinema, expedition films, CinemaScope advertising, and Japanese poster design of the 1950s.
Condition: Very Good+ for its age; cinema used.
Please review all photographs, including the reverse and close-up details, as they show the exact poster for sale.
B2 format: approximately 51 × 73 cm.
Stock code: U29.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
About Japanese B2 posters
Japanese B2 posters, typically measuring around 51 × 73 cm, were a standard format for theatrical advertising. Designed for temporary cinema display, surviving examples preserve the distinctive artwork, typography, and promotional approaches of their original Japanese releases.
