"Phantom of the Rue Morgue" (謎のモルグ街), Original First-Release Japanese Movie Poster 1954, Very Rare, Speed Poster / Press-Sheet (24 × 51 cm) J188A
This is an original Japanese speed poster (press-sheet style, c.24 × 51 cm) printed in 1954 for Warner Bros.’ Phantom of the Rue Morgue, directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Karl Malden, Claude Dauphin, and Patricia Medina—an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1841 tale The Murders in the Rue Morgue. Issued domestically for theaters and distributors, speed posters were printed in small quantities and heavily used; survival is uncommon, especially with the original double-sided press text intact.
Design
A tall, lithographic collage in saturated WarnerColor hues: at right, a clawed shadow (the film’s infamous orangutan) reaches toward a terrified heroine on a Parisian rooftop; at left, stacked portrait tiles introduce the principal cast. The bold, lemon-yellow vertical title 「謎のモルグ街」 cuts through a midnight blue field. The top tagline reads: 「巴里の夜に流れ来る恐怖の叫び！鈴の音に次々と倒れゆく美女の惨死体！」 — “On Paris nights the screams of terror echo! With the tolling of a bell, beautiful women fall one by one!” The English lockup PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE and the Warner shield anchor the base, with side copy touting “WarnerColor” and the studio’s 3-D boom (立体映画) pedigree of the period.
Cult status / film notes
Part of Hollywood’s early-1950s 3-D cycle, the film followed House of Wax in leveraging stereoscopic shocks and lush color to re-imagine classic horror. Poe adaptations remain a cornerstone of mid-century genre collecting; Japanese materials—especially speed posters—are prized for their dramatic typography and scarcity. The reverse of this example carries dense Japanese editorial, cast/crew blocks, and miniature ad mats—evidence of authentic distribution use.
Condition
Very Good / Excellent for the format. Please review the photos—they show the exact piece for sale.
This poster is an original Japanese speed poster from the 1954 first-release campaign.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 71 years old!
Certificate of Authenticity included.
