“The Lower Depths” (どん底) — Framed unfolded original Japanese first release pamphlet-poster for Kurosawa’s 1957 Toho drama (Maxim Gorky adaptation) — Unfolded display size c. 18 × 50 cm (B5 when folded) • GA7

This is an original Japanese FRAMED pamphlet-poster from the first release of The Lower Depths (どん底) in 1957, directed by Akira Kurosawa. It is authentic vintage Japanese cinema paper—not a reproduction or a reprint—and is now over 68 years old.

The artwork has been beautifully presented in a cream-colored mount and dark brown frame, complementing the design fantastically. This format can be displayed anywhere, making it ideal for an office desk, a home collection wall, or as a distinctive gift for family, a friend… or yourself.

Size (unframed paper, approx.):
• Original pamphlet size (folded, B5): c. 25 × 18 cm (approx. 9.84 × 7.09 in)
• Framed presentation (unfolded to show both covers): c. 18 × 50 cm (approx. 7.09 × 19.69 in)
• Issued for Toho screenings; cover text references Hibiya / Chiyoda Theatre (千代田劇場)

Why this matters
Akira Kurosawa’s The Lower Depths is a powerful, socially driven postwar drama adapted from Maxim Gorky’s classic play. This Toho production reimagines the Russian tale in Edo-period Japan, centering on a ragtag group of outcasts living in a dilapidated tenement where illusions and harsh realities blur in the shadows of society. It’s a major Kurosawa work from the peak 1950s period and a must-have for collectors of Kurosawa, Toho, and serious Japanese cinema.

About this piece
Format: one original Japanese first-release program/pamphlet, professionally mounted unfolded so both the front and back cover are visible together in a single frame.
• Original 1957 Japanese first-release-era pamphlet-poster for The Lower Depths (どん底)
• Framed opened out flat (front cover + back cover advert displayed side-by-side)
• Presented in a cream mount with a dark brown frame (framed display included)
• Certificate of Authenticity included
• Sold framed as shown — ready to display immediately

Design & iconography
The front cover features vivid color photography of key moments, including a dramatic altercation between two women and Toshirō Mifune standing stoically in traditional garb—an imposing, iconic presence in Kurosawa’s recurring ensemble. The bold red brush-script title 「どん底」 anchors the cover, with venue text below pointing to Hibiya’s Chiyoda Theatre—a wonderful period detail that roots the piece in its original Tokyo screening context.

The back cover (framed and displayed alongside the front) is a striking red advert that feels like a graphic poster in its own right: a black-and-white illustration of the tenement’s inhabitants gathered in a crowded interior scene beneath the huge title 「どん底」. Crucially, it advertises the famed Shinjuku “Donzoko” cocktail bar (a perfectly on-theme tie-in), including period specifics such as a special discount period (Oct 1–15, 1957), live accordion and piano performance hours, and location text referencing Shinjuku, behind Toho, in front of Suehirotei (末広亭前)—a fantastic slice of 1950s Tokyo nightlife and cinema culture.

Translations of the main captions
Main title: 「どん底」 — “The Lower Depths”
Venue text (front cover): 「日比谷 千代田劇場」 — “Hibiya / Chiyoda Theatre”
Back cover location line: 「新宿 東宝裏 末広亭前」 — “Shinjuku, behind Toho, in front of Suehirotei”
Back cover promo line: 「どん底カクテル特別割引期間」 — “Donzoko cocktail special discount period”

Rarity & significance
Authentic, first-release Japanese paper for Kurosawa’s 1950s films is increasingly scarce, and The Lower Depths material is especially desirable due to its cultural weight and collector demand for Mifune/Kurosawa ephemera. Framed unfolded like this, it becomes an even more compelling display piece—pairing the film’s photographic cover with a beautifully era-specific Shinjuku “Donzoko” advert that deepens the historical story of the item.

Condition
Excellent condition. Please refer to the imagery (both front and back) as this is the exact pamphlet-poster that is for sale. Minor age-related handling marks may be present consistent with genuine vintage paper, but overall it remains clean, striking, and highly displayable—especially in its current framed presentation.

Details
Country: Japan
Year of issue: 1957 (first release)
Film: The Lower Depths (どん底)
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Studio: Toho
Source material: Adapted from Maxim Gorky
Star highlight: Toshirō Mifune (featured prominently on the cover)
Size (paper, folded B5, approx.): c. 25 × 18 cm (approx. 9.84 × 7.09 in)
Displayed size (paper, unfolded as framed, approx.): c. 18 × 50 cm (approx. 7.09 × 19.69 in)
Printing: Original 1957 issue — not a reproduction / not a reprint
Authentication: COA included
Internal ref: GA7