“They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!” (続・夜の大捜査線), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1970, Sidney Poitier / Martin Landau, B2 Format (c. 51 × 73 cm) — U30

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for the 1970 release of They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!, released in Japan as 続・夜の大捜査線. Opening in Japanese cinemas on 24 October 1970, the film reunited audiences with Sidney Poitier’s detective Virgil Tibbs following In the Heat of the Night. The Japanese title explicitly identifies it as a continuation of that earlier film.

Directed by Gordon Douglas, the crime thriller stars Sidney Poitier and Martin Landau, supported by Barbara McNair, Anthony Zerbe, and Jeff Corey. Set in San Francisco, it follows Tibbs as a murder investigation implicates his friend, a politically active minister played by Landau. The case places professional duty against personal loyalty, accompanied by Quincy Jones’s distinctive funk-inflected score.

Printed on one B2 sheet, the design centres on a commanding image of Poitier in a pale trench coat and striped tie, his outstretched arm caught in a struggle. Dark architectural details and illuminated office buildings surround him, while sweeping concentric lines radiate across the headlights at the upper right, adding movement to the nighttime city imagery.

Below, the orange tower of the Golden Gate Bridge rises behind approaching cars, establishing the San Francisco setting. Smaller scenes of danger and pursuit accompany a portrait of Martin Landau near the foot. The mixture of photographic imagery, coloured architectural elements, and graphic light effects gives the composition a distinctly early-1970s character.

The enormous red lettering 「夜の大捜査線」 descends through the lower-left section, with the dark character 「続」, meaning “continuation,” positioned above and beside it. The original English title appears in black above the lower inset, while the United Artists logo occupies the bottom-right corner.

The prominent blue and green tagline reads:

「もっと凄い事件がおきた！夜・ヘッドライト・黒い刑事が走る！強烈なクールジャズにのってあのサスペンスが甦える！」
“An even more shocking crime! Night, headlights, a Black detective on the move! That suspense returns to the driving sound of cool jazz!”

The strong portraiture, urban montage, and vivid red typography make this an appealing example for collectors of Sidney Poitier, the Virgil Tibbs films, Quincy Jones, and Japanese crime-film poster design.

Condition: Excellent+. Light handling creases and minor age toning are visible, with a few small marks on the reverse. The front retains vivid colour and crisp detail.

Please review all photographs, including the reverse, as they show the exact poster for sale.

B2 format: approximately 51 × 73 cm.
Stock code: U30.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.

About Japanese B2 posters
Japanese B2 posters, typically measuring around 51 × 73 cm, were a standard format for theatrical advertising. Designed for temporary cinema display, surviving examples preserve the distinctive artwork, typography, and promotional approaches of their original Japanese releases.