"Rope (ロープ)", Original Japanese Movie Poster 1962, First Release, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N167

This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1962 for the first theatrical release of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope (1948) in Japan, distributed by MGM. First release Japanese Hitchcock posters are rare and highly collectible, especially for this mid-century psychological thriller.

Film background
Rope was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and stars James Stewart, John Dall, and Farley Granger. Loosely inspired by the Leopold and Loeb murder case, the story follows two young men who commit a murder to demonstrate their supposed intellectual superiority, hiding the body in a trunk during a dinner party. Hitchcock’s bold experiment in staging the film as a series of long takes, creating the illusion of real-time storytelling, made Rope one of his most innovative works. While controversial on its release, it has since been reappraised as a landmark in cinematic technique and suspense.

Poster design
The Japanese first release poster presents a striking composition: a close-up of James Stewart with a rope forming a noose across the layout, Hitchcock himself appearing prominently in the upper right. The bold red title “ロープ” anchors the design, while taglines in Japanese pose the chilling question: “Is the perfect crime possible?” The minimal but powerful artwork highlights both the psychological tension of the story and Hitchcock’s role as the master of suspense.

This poster is in very good condition (please refer to imagery, both front and back, of the exact poster for sale).

It is over 60 years old.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.