“GONE WITH THE WIND” (1939) – ORIGINAL JAPANESE OVERSIZE 70MM RE-RELEASE POSTER – “FIERY EMBRACE” PAINTED STYLE | Rare | Showa 50 Re-Release Campaign (1975) | c. 98 × 158 cm (c. 38.5 × 62.2 in)
A striking, oversized Japanese re-release poster for Gone With the Wind, printed for the Showa 50 (1975) revival campaign and prominently advertising the film’s 70mm presentation. The design is dominated by a blazing, painterly image of Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in embrace, set against an infernal red-orange field, with smaller narrative vignettes below including cavalry, the plantation house, and carriage action. The composition is completed by the English title “GONE WITH THE WIND” and the monumental Japanese title 風と共に去りぬ.
The standard 1975 Japanese re-release is documented in B2 format, while this example belongs to a much larger and materially harder-to-find display category. In practical collecting terms, it offers the kind of architectural wall presence that standard theatrical paper simply does not, and is considerably scarcer than the regular B2 issue.
Date & Japanese Theatrical Release (Context)
Gone With the Wind first reached Japanese theatres in 1952, and this poster was printed for the 1975 Japanese revival, presented in 70mm. The sheet itself reinforces that campaign identity with its oversized “70mm” callout, Oscar statuette device, and Japanese text announcing “Academy 10 awards” and “Ministry of Education Special Selection.”
The Film & Its Place in Cinema History
Produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming, Gone With the Wind remains one of the defining Hollywood epics of the studio era. Starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard, Hattie McDaniel, Thomas Mitchell, and Ona Munson, it stands as one of the most influential and widely recognized films in cinema history. Its scale, romantic intensity, and enduring cultural status have ensured a lasting international following, and Japanese posters for major reissues of the film remain highly collectible.
Design Notes
This Japanese oversized sheet is built to command attention at distance, yet it remains unusually elegant in its hierarchy of image and text.
Key elements visible on the sheet:
• The dramatic upper-left 70mm campaign callout
• An awards block with Oscar silhouette and Japanese text for “Academy 10 awards”
• A blazing red-orange background framing the central Rhett/Scarlett embrace
• Lower narrative vignettes including cavalry, the plantation house, and carriage action
• The English title in blue above the large red Japanese title 風と共に去りぬ
• Period lower-right marks including the FUJI logo and Eirin 50111
About the “10 Awards” callout
The poster’s “Academy 10 awards” claim reflects the period manner of counting the film’s eight competitive Academy Awards together with its two honorary/special Academy honours, for a total of ten.
The Oversize Japanese Display Format and Why It’s So Hard to Find
Japan’s standard theatrical poster size is B2, and most surviving Japanese paper for this 1975 reissue appears in that format. This much larger display issue belongs to a different class of surviving material: a piece made for high-visibility exhibition rather than ordinary collector retention. Large-format Japanese film posters were produced in smaller quantities, handled more heavily, and were far more difficult to store after use. The result is that survival rates are dramatically lower, especially for examples that remain visually strong and complete.
Authenticity: Original Japanese Showa 50 (1975) re-release poster — not a modern reproduction. The period Eirin 50111 and FUJI marks are visible at lower right.
Please refer to the images provided — this is the exact poster offered.
Condition
Very Good / Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
It is over 50 years old!
Certificate of Authenticity Included.
