"Anatomy of a Murder", Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1959, Very Rare, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N241
This poster comes from a carefully kept private Japanese collection of 1950s–60s American cinema (including Rear Window 1954, Hammer and Disney). The archive was stored in the dark for decades, so most pieces—this one included—survive in unusually fresh condition.
This is an original Japanese poster printed in 1959 by Columbia (コロムビア映画会社) for the first Japanese release of Anatomy of a Murder (「或る殺人」), Otto Preminger’s landmark courtroom drama starring James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O’Connell, and George C. Scott, with an original jazz score by Duke Ellington.
Printed for the film’s initial theatrical run, this scarce original B2（半裁）is sought after by both Saul Bass and classic-Hollywood collectors—a superb mid-century paper piece now well over six decades old.
Why this example is extraordinary (rarity & market)
Japanese B2 posters for Anatomy of a Murder appear far less often than the U.S. one-sheet and European materials, and high-grade examples are especially elusive. This variant, with its clean orange field and portrait strip, is the version most prized by design collectors.
Poster design
A striking Japanese adaptation of Saul Bass’s iconic “cut-out” body: jet-black figure on a vivid orange ground, with the bilingual title treatment—hand-lettered English logotype inside the silhouette and the bold Japanese title 「或る殺人」 dominating the top. A lower portrait strip presents James Stewart, Ben Gazzara, Lee Remick, and Arthur O’Connell, while cast credits in crisp white type balance the composition. Distributor credit reads コロムビア映画会社 at the foot.
Condition
Excellent. Colors remain strong and saturated; paper retains great integrity. Please review the photos (front and back); they show the exact poster for sale.
Please also review the close up images!
It is over 66 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
