"The Cabinet of Caligari" (怪人カリガリ博士), 1962 Japanese STB Tatekan Poster (First Release), STB Size (c. 51 × 145 cm) O849

This is an original Japanese STB tatekan (two‑panel standing) poster issued in Japan for The Cabinet of Caligari (怪人カリガリ博士), the stylish early‑’60s CinemaScope shocker directed by Roger Kay and written by Robert Bloch (famed author of Psycho—a major selling point called out on the poster). Presented in the dramatic STB format (two B2 sheets designed to display together as a tall vertical, approx. 51 × 145 cm), it’s an exceptionally striking and far less commonly seen format than standard one‑sheets—built to stop audiences in their tracks from across a theatre lobby.

Notably, the poster’s own credits spotlight Glynis Johns (グリニス・ジョーンズ) and lean hard into the film’s “恐怖映画の決定版” (“definitive horror film”) positioning, while the 20th Century Fox mark at the base confirms its major‑studio Japanese theatrical pedigree.

Film background
A vivid, modern re‑imagining of the Caligari nightmare for the widescreen era, The Cabinet of Caligari twists psychological horror into a sleek, unsettling game of control, perception, and experimentation. With Robert Bloch’s macabre sensibility behind the script and a sharply designed, contemporary visual approach, the film trades cobbled silent‑era expressionism for a cold, clinical dread—while still echoing the original Caligari mythos of captivity, manipulation, and creeping menace.

Poster design
A masterclass in pop‑modern horror design: the STB is dominated by a colossal, colour‑smeared face trapped behind black vertical bars, like a human mind imprisoned. Electric teal, acid yellow, bruised magenta, and inky shadows create a painterly, almost hallucinatory effect—pure mid‑century psych‑terror.

Across both panels, the Japanese title explodes in aggressive blood‑red brushwork: 「怪人 カリガリ博士」, while bold copy blocks scream exploitation intensity—「恐怖映画の決定版」—and tease body‑horror shocks and “lived” experimentation. The imagery escalates downward: a woman’s terrified scream, a cold male stare, and the unforgettable inset bathtub vignette—each element designed like a sequence of jolts. The result is visually commanding, uniquely Japanese in its typography and layout, and absolutely made for the tall tatekan presentation.

Rarity and condition
Japanese STB tatekan posters were produced in far smaller quantities than standard formats and were intended for prominent lobby display—meaning surviving examples are scarce, and complete two‑panel sets are especially difficult to find. This is a particularly desirable title in the format, with the added collector appeal of Robert Bloch attribution and Fox distribution.

Condition is Excellent, close to Near Mint—an unused / uncirculated example with outstanding presentation. Colours remain strong and the paper shows excellent overall integrity. Please inspect the photos carefully as they show the exact poster for sale (front and back of both panels).

It is over 60 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.