“West Side Story” (ウエスト・サイド物語), Original Japanese Re-Release Movie Poster 1969, STB Tatekan Size (c. 51 × 145 cm) T287

A spectacular original 1969 Japanese re-release STB tatekan for West Side Story, the landmark musical directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, George Chakiris, Rita Moreno, and Russ Tamblyn.

Printed in the scarce tall, two-sheet STB / tatekan format, this design combines the romance of Tony and Maria’s fire-escape scene with a panoramic New York skyline, a lively procession of dancers, and an enormous blue panel dominated by the film’s celebrated title logo. The oversized red Japanese lettering and dramatic leaping figures give the composition exceptional presence.

An especially attractive Japanese design for one of cinema’s greatest musicals, offered in excellent condition with strong colour and impressive display appeal.

Date & Japanese Theatrical Release

West Side Story was released in the United States in 1961 and first opened in Japan on 23 December 1961, distributed by United Artists.

This poster was produced for the 1969 Japanese theatrical re-release, promoting the film’s spectacular 70mm presentation. By this time, its songs, choreography, and romantic imagery were already internationally familiar, allowing the campaign to present the film as an established classic returning to the big screen.

The STB / tatekan format measures approximately 51 × 145 cm, creating a display nearly five feet high. This example is now 57 years old.

The Film, Its Reception & Its Legacy

Adapted from the 1957 Broadway musical, West Side Story brings the tragedy of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet into the streets of New York. The romance between Tony and Maria unfolds amid the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, where prejudice, territorial conflict, and loyalty place increasingly destructive pressures on the young lovers.

The film was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, with a screenplay by Ernest Lehman. Its theatrical foundations brought together an extraordinary creative team: Leonard Bernstein’s music, Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, Arthur Laurents’s book, and Robbins’s conception and choreography.

Songs including “Maria,” “Tonight,” “America,” and “Somewhere” became enduring standards. Just as important is the way dance carries the drama: movement expresses attraction, aggression, belonging, and fear, turning streets, rooftops, and playgrounds into spaces of heightened emotion.

The principal cast combines Natalie Wood as Maria and Richard Beymer as Tony with George Chakiris as Bernardo, Rita Moreno as Anita, and Russ Tamblyn as Riff. Chakiris and Moreno both received Academy Awards for their supporting performances.

A major critical and commercial success, the film won ten Oscars from eleven nominations, including Best Picture and Directing, establishing the record for the most Academy Award wins by a musical film. Its achievements in choreography, colour, editing, and widescreen composition helped define what a stage musical could become on film.

Selected for the United States National Film Registry in 1997, West Side Story remains a central work in the history of the screen musical, admired for its combination of romantic intimacy, social tension, and extraordinary physical energy.

Design Notes

The New York skyline: The upper section is filled with a dramatic monochrome city panorama, including the recognisable Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. Its dense architecture establishes the urban setting and gives the coloured figures a striking background.

Tony and Maria on the fire escape: A narrow vertical photographic panel places Maria above Tony, recreating the balcony imagery at the heart of their romance. Maria’s yellow dress stands out against the dark metalwork, while Tony’s upward movement draws the eye through the composition.

A horizontal procession of dancers: Across the middle, a band of colourful figures introduces the film’s exuberant choreography. This strip connects the romantic upper section with the expansive dance imagery below.

Monumental Japanese lettering: The red title ウエスト・サイド物語 stretches across the blue lower panel. Its scale and sharp colour contrast give the poster immediate impact, even when viewed from a distance.

The classic fire-escape logo: The white WEST SIDE STORY lettering incorporates a fire escape and small dancing figures. This celebrated graphic identity originated with Joe Caroff and is integrated here into a distinctly Japanese photographic layout. A smaller orange version appears at the upper left.

Leaping figures at dramatic scale: Three male dancers dominate the lower section, their outstretched arms and raised legs extending across the blue field and into the surrounding pale border. Their arrangement captures the athleticism and precision that make the film’s choreography so memorable.

Contrasting colour and texture: The blue panel, scarlet Japanese title, green promotional copy, pink accent, and warm costume colours create a rich composition, balanced by the monochrome cityscape and generous pale margins.

70mm, United Artists, and the Japanese Re-Release Pitch

The large 70mm announcement promotes the film as a major theatrical experience. The accompanying Japanese text also highlights Technicolor and six-track stereophonic sound, emphasising the visual scale and musical impact of the presentation.

The green copy at upper right celebrates a musical whose excitement spread from New York around the world, describing it as a production everyone knows and audiences have embraced. Its tone is particularly appropriate to a revival campaign: this is an invitation to experience a familiar favourite again on a grand scale.

At the foot of the poster, an Oscar statuette, awards-related lettering, and the United Artists branding reinforce the film’s prestige.

The period advertisement refers to eleven Academy Awards. This appears to count the film’s ten competitive wins together with Jerome Robbins’s additional honorary award for his achievements in film choreography.

About STB / Tatekan Posters

Japanese STB / tatekan posters were elongated advertisements intended for prominent display around cinema entrances and other tall, narrow spaces. They were commonly printed in two sections arranged vertically to create one continuous composition.

Their large size and practical use made them vulnerable to folding, handling damage, separation, and disposal after exhibition. Surviving examples retaining both sections are particularly appealing to collectors.

Here, the format serves the design exceptionally well. The skyline and elevated balcony scene establish height in the upper section, while the dancers fill the lower panel with movement. It is a composition that makes full use of the distinctive proportions of a Japanese tatekan.

Condition Report

Overall condition: Excellent, with light signs of age, handling, and previous folding.

Colour and presentation: The blue background, red Japanese title, green copy, and photographic colours remain strong and attractive. The skyline, central logo, and principal figures retain clear detail and excellent visual impact.

Overall, this is a beautifully preserved example with excellent display presence. Once framed, its combination of New York imagery, bold typography, and expansive dance photography should present exceptionally well.

Please review the supplied photographs carefully—front and reverse—as they show the exact poster offered.

This is an original Japanese theatrical re-release STB tatekan poster from 1969.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
A Certificate of Authenticity is included.