“It Happened One Night” (ある夜の出来事), Original Japanese Re-Release Movie Poster 1977 (film 1934), B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) O865
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster produced for the 1977 Japanese revival release of Frank Capra’s legendary romantic comedy It Happened One Night (ある夜の出来事), starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Originally produced in 1934, the film was first released in Japan that same year and received this major theatrical revival in December 1977, distributed by International Promotion (インターナショナル・プロモーション / IP).
One of the foundational works of the screwball comedy, the film follows runaway heiress Ellie Andrews as she travels toward New York and encounters recently fired newspaper reporter Peter Warne. Their initially antagonistic relationship gradually develops into one of Hollywood’s most celebrated screen romances. It Happened One Night famously became the first film in Academy Awards history to win all five major Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Poster design
A superb Japan-specific 1977 revival design that completely reinterprets the 1934 film through the graphic language of the 1970s. The upper half is dominated by a striking stylised illustration of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert about to kiss, rendered in a bold limited palette of cream, black, blue and vivid red. Colbert’s elaborate dark hair, long eyelashes and brilliant red lips give the image an almost Pop Art / fashion-illustration quality.
Below, monochrome photographic imagery shows the pair travelling together beside the road, accompanied by the famous New York-bound bus, while the enormous hand-rendered red Japanese title ある夜の出来事 anchors the lower section.
The Japanese campaign proudly highlights the film’s extraordinary Oscar history with the line 「アカデミー賞主要5部門独占の記録を保持している永遠の名作です！」 — approximately, “An eternal masterpiece that holds the record of sweeping the five major Academy Award categories!” Five Oscar statuettes are also reproduced immediately above the title.
The combination of 1930s Hollywood romance and bold 1970s Japanese graphic design makes this revival poster dramatically different from the film’s original-release advertising and exceptionally attractive when framed.
It is nearly 49 years old!
Condition
Excellent. The colours remain exceptionally strong, particularly the deep blue field, vivid red typography and illustrated portraiture. There are only very minor signs of age and handling, with no significant condition issues affecting the central artwork or typography. Please review the photo—it shows the exact poster for sale.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
