This is an original Japanese poster printed in 1961 for the first release of The Wind-of-Youth Group Crosses the Mountain Pass. This poster is ultra-rare.
For the first colour title in the first box set, Arrow present a terrific transfer, with the print and the colours remaining sharp,along with a clean soundtrack.
Returning to the roaming road movie he had touched on with Eight Hours of Terror (1957-also reviewed), directing auteur Seijun Suzuki continues to display a keen interest in his early colour era of breaking away from his gritty black and white Film Noir era, with a surprisingly jaunty atmosphere.
Reuniting with cinematographer Saburo Isayama, Suzuki continues to expand in his interest in filming on real locations, with glorious wide-shots scanning the skyline as wandering student Shintaro (played with a sweet warmth by Koji Wada,who made 7 films with Suzuki) runs into a travelling magic troupe.
Taking full advantage of the troupes job, Suzuki continues to paint his distinctive colourful surrealist styling,with an outstanding set-piece throwing colour tinted lighting into the middle of a punch-up, and the magic troupe catching the eyes of all costumers, with their shimmering bright outfits against lively festive locations.
Pushing miss-dealings with a gangster right to the sidelines, the screenplay by GAMERA franchise writer Niisan Takahashi, Yoshihiko Morimoto & Ichiro Ikeda instead go for a Road Movie with a adorable zest, as the writers follow the troupe from town to town struggling to turn their act into a success, as Shintaro succeeds in building a bond with them across the wind of youth. (Source IMBD)
This poster is in a very good condition with vibrant colours. Please refer to the imagery as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
It is 60 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.