“Middle of the Night” (真夜中), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1959, B2 Size (51 x 73cm) ZA1165
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1959 for the first Japanese release of Middle of the Night (真夜中), the American romantic drama directed by Delbert Mann. The film stars Kim Novak and Fredric March, with Glenda Farrell, Albert Dekker, and Martin Balsam in supporting roles.
Film background
Released in 1959, Middle of the Night is a serious romantic drama adapted from the play by Paddy Chayefsky, one of the most respected American dramatists of the post-war period. Directed by Delbert Mann, whose earlier success with Marty is referenced directly in the Japanese campaign, the film explores the emotionally fraught relationship between a young divorcée and an older widower. Its subject matter — loneliness, age difference, social pressure, and late-found intimacy — gave it a more adult and psychologically grounded tone than the glossy romantic dramas with which Kim Novak was often associated.
The film was released in Japan on 12 June 1959, at a moment when Novak was at the height of her international fame, following Vertigo the previous year. Japanese publicity presented her not simply as a glamorous Hollywood star, but as a sophisticated, melancholic beauty — an image this poster captures especially well.
Poster design
A striking and highly atmospheric Japanese design, dominated by a large, softly lit portrait of Kim Novak against a dark blue-toned New York skyline. The cityscape immediately reinforces the urban loneliness and nocturnal emotional mood suggested by the title, while Novak’s expression gives the sheet a strong sense of introspection and romantic tension.
The Japanese title 真夜中 is printed boldly across the centre in large red characters, powerfully contrasting with the cool dark background. At lower left, a warm inset still shows Novak and Fredric March together in a car, giving the viewer a more intimate glimpse of the central relationship. The yellow cast block at right lists Kim Novak and Fredric March prominently, while the lower section retains the English title MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT and the Columbia mark.
The top campaign copy reads in effect: “Love is a woman’s happiness! A woman’s heart wholly devoted to the love she has finally found for the first time!” This is an excellent example of how Japanese distributors framed sophisticated Hollywood melodrama for domestic audiences in the late 1950s — emphasising yearning, emotional devotion, and feminine interiority.
Rarity and significance
Original Japanese posters for 1950s American adult dramas are increasingly difficult to find, particularly examples with such strong period design and star-led appeal. This poster is especially desirable for collectors of Kim Novak, whose Japanese paper remains highly sought after, and for those interested in sophisticated late-1950s studio-era drama. The contrast between Novak’s glamour and the moody urban backdrop gives this B2 particularly strong display presence.
Condition
Very Good / Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
It is over 67 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
