“Black Orpheus” / “Orfeu Negro” (黒いオルフェ), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1960, Artwork by Hisamitsu Noguchi, Ultra Rare STB Tatekan Size 20 × 57 in / 51 × 145 cm Q278

This is an original Japanese STB / tatekan theatrical poster printed in 1960 for the first Japanese release of Black Orpheus (黒いオルフェ / Orfeu Negro), Marcel Camus’s celebrated romantic drama inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, reimagined against the colour, rhythm, and tragedy of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

This is the rare large-format STB / tatekan version, featuring spectacular artwork by the celebrated Japanese illustrator Hisamitsu Noguchi. At approximately 51 × 145 cm / 20 × 57 in, the format gives the design a commanding vertical presence and is far rarer than the standard Japanese B2.

Why this is a trophy piece
Winner of both the Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix / Palme d’Or and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Black Orpheus remains one of the most internationally admired films of the late 1950s, renowned for its colour, music, movement, and tragic lyricism.

This Japanese STB is a particularly powerful country-of-release design: romantic, rhythmic, graphic, and highly displayable, with Noguchi’s bold illustration transforming the film’s Carnival mythology into a striking vertical theatrical image.

Film background
Directed by Marcel Camus, Black Orpheus relocates the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice to the streets, hills, and Carnival atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro. The film stars Breno Mello as Orfeu and Marpessa Dawn as Eurydice, presenting a modern tale of passion, fate, music, and loss.

The film was also crucial in introducing international audiences to Brazilian music. Its soundtrack, associated with Antônio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá, helped bring the sounds of samba and bossa nova to a wider global public.

Poster design
This Japanese STB features breathtaking artwork by Hisamitsu Noguchi. Against a deep black field, the central image shows Orfeu carrying Eurydice in an ecstatic, dance-like embrace, their costumes rendered in vivid yellow, blue, white, and warm Carnival tones.

The enormous yellow Japanese title 黒いオルフェ runs vertically through the composition with extraordinary graphic force. At the top, the French title ORFEU NEGRO appears alongside the names Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello, giving the poster a refined international identity.

The central Japanese copy reads:

「爆発するサンバのリズム！灼熱の太陽のもと命をかけた永遠の恋！」

A natural rendering is:

“The exploding rhythm of samba! An eternal love risked beneath the burning sun!”

The poster also proudly announces the film’s major awards:

「米アカデミー外国映画賞受賞」
“Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film”

「カンヌ映画祭グランプリ受賞」
“Winner at the Cannes Film Festival”

The lower section includes Japanese credits, the Towa distribution mark, and further billing for the film’s cast, director, cinematography, and music. The result is one of the most visually memorable Japanese presentations of a major international art-film classic.

About STB / Tatekan posters
STB / tatekan posters are tall Japanese cinema signboard posters formed from two stacked B2 sheets, typically measuring around 51 × 145 cm. They were intended for theatre-front display, lobby pillars, and freestanding promotional boards, where their height gave them exceptional visibility.

Because these posters were made for practical cinema use and were often folded, pasted, handled, or discarded, surviving examples are now highly prized by collectors, especially for major international titles from the 1950s and 1960s.

Condition
Very Good / Excellent vintage condition. Please review the photos carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale, including the front, back, and close-up details.

There is period writing on the verso in black felt tip. As shown in the close-up image, this is very hard to see from the front and does not significantly affect the poster’s display impact. Apart from this, the poster presents beautifully, with rich black tones, vivid colour, strong contrast, and excellent wall presence.

Minor signs of age, fold lines, and handling are visible, consistent with an original Japanese STB of this period. These condition points have been taken into account when pricing.

This is an original Japanese theatrical STB poster from the 1960 first-release campaign.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is over 65 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.