“Bad Lands” (追撃の9人), Original Japanese Movie Poster, Robert Barrat / Douglas Walton, B2 Format (c. 51 × 73 cm) — T123

This is a very rare original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for Bad Lands, the 1939 American Western directed by Lew Landers, released in Japan as 追撃の9人 (Tsuigeki no Kyūnin, “Nine Men in Pursuit”). Its dramatic photographic montage and enormous red Japanese lettering make it a striking example of Japanese publicity for classic American Western cinema.

Produced by RKO Radio Pictures, the film stars Robert Barrat, Noah Beery Jr., Douglas Walton and Andy Clyde, alongside an ensemble of familiar Western character actors. Set in Arizona in 1875, it follows a sheriff and his posse as their pursuit of a fugitive becomes a desperate struggle for survival in hostile desert terrain.

The story draws on the isolated-group suspense associated with The Lost Patrol, transferring that sense of mounting danger to the American frontier. Exhaustion, fear and friction within the group become as important as the threat surrounding them, giving the film a tense, concentrated atmosphere.

The Japanese design translates that tension into an imposing central image of two men locked in a physical struggle. A weathered, broad-brimmed cowboy restrains a younger man across the shoulders and neck, their contrasting expressions communicating both force and alarm. Enlarged to occupy most of the sheet, the confrontation gives the poster an immediate dramatic focus.

Behind them, a rocky desert landscape stretches towards distant mountains. Smaller scenes continue across the lower section, showing members of the group gathered among scrub and boulders, with additional figures positioned across the rugged terrain at the right. These details connect the central confrontation to the film’s wider story of pursuit and survival.

The colour treatment combines dusty browns, muted pinks and pale blue-green, punctuated by the vivid red title. Although the film itself was photographed in black and white, the poster presents its imagery in a richly coloured promotional montage.

The enormous Japanese title 「追撃の9人」 runs vertically down the right side, with the sweeping numeral 9 providing a particularly strong graphic accent. At the top, the English title is printed as “BAD LAND”, a distinctive variation from the film’s usual title, Bad Lands. Green Japanese cast and director credits sit over the lower portion of the central image.

The vertical promotional copy begins:

「アパッチに追撃する9人の荒くれ野郎！」
“Nine roughnecks pursuing the Apache!”

The wording captures the confrontational language of the original Western campaign, while the crowded montage and forceful typography emphasise danger, conflict and rugged frontier adventure.

A distinctive addition for collectors of classic Westerns, RKO cinema and vintage Japanese poster design, particularly those drawn to bold typography and dramatic photographic compositions.

Condition: Excellent for its age. The colours remain strong, with clear photographic detail and particularly vibrant red lettering. Once framed, this poster will display beautifully.

Please review all photographs, including the front, reverse and close-up, as they show the exact poster for sale.

Japanese B2 format: approximately 51 × 73 cm.
Stock code: T123.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.

About Japanese B2 posters
Japanese B2 posters typically measure approximately 51 × 73 cm and were widely used for theatrical display. Their combinations of photography, illustration, typography and locally written promotional copy preserve how films were introduced to Japanese audiences.