“Around the World Under the Sea” (海底世界一周), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1966, David McCallum / Lloyd Bridges, STB Tatekan Two-Sheet Format (c. 51 × 145 cm) — U14
This is an original Japanese STB tatekan theatrical poster for the 1966 Japanese release of Around the World Under the Sea, titled Kaitei Sekai Isshū in Japan. Sixty years old, this complete two-sheet example combines elaborate underwater adventure imagery with towering red typography. The film opened in Japan through MGM in May 1966.
An Ivan Tors production directed by Andrew Marton, the film stars Lloyd Bridges, Shirley Eaton, Brian Kelly, David McCallum, Keenan Wynn, and Marshall Thompson. Its story follows six specialists aboard the research submarine Hydronaut, travelling beneath the world’s oceans to install an early-warning network for seismic activity. Dangerous marine life, volcanic eruptions, and the challenges of deep-sea exploration turn their scientific mission into a struggle for survival.
Printed on two sheets arranged vertically, the design uses the elongated format to suggest a descent into the ocean depths. The upper-right corner groups Bridges, Eaton, and McCallum around the submarine’s controls, above illustrations of divers and underwater equipment. A separate portrait of Brian Kelly appears on the left around the central join, while the blue-green background connects the scenes across both sheets.
The enormous red title 「海底世界一周」, shaded in black to create a three-dimensional effect, runs down the centre. Below it, the orange Hydronaut advances through a montage of divers, a threatening giant eel, and an erupting undersea volcano. Yellow searchlights and volcanic fire contrast with the surrounding water. The stacked English title “AROUND THE WORLD UNDER THE SEA” and MGM credit appear at the lower left.
The prominent vertical tagline reads:
「地球危うし！相次ぐ海底火山に挑戦する決死の冒険スペクタクル！」
“Earth in peril! A life-or-death adventure spectacle confronting a succession of undersea volcanoes!”
The combination of submarine imagery, marine creatures, and monumental lettering gives this poster a distinctive presence. It is an especially appealing example for collectors of David McCallum, Lloyd Bridges, Shirley Eaton, underwater adventure films, and Japanese science-fiction poster design of the 1960s.
Condition: Very Good+ / Excellent. Tiny area of paper loss. A faint “70mm” marking appears in the upper-left field.
Please review all photographs, including the individual sheets and reverse, as they show the exact poster for sale.
STB tatekan format: approximately 51 × 145 cm when assembled.
Stock code: U14.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
About STB (Tatekan) posters
Japanese STB / tatekan posters were tall standing-board advertisements, printed in two pieces to be joined vertically for cinema display. Typically measuring around 51 × 145 cm, their elongated proportions offered considerable scope for distinctive compositions. Designed for temporary theatrical use, complete surviving examples preserve an important part of Japan’s cinema advertising history.
