“Children of Paradise” (天井桟敷の人々), Original Japanese Re-Release Movie Poster 1981 (film 1945), B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) O872
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster produced for the major 1981 Japanese revival release of Marcel Carné’s legendary Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du Paradis / 天井桟敷の人々). Originally released in France in 1945, the film first opened theatrically in Japan on 20 February 1952; this poster belongs to the important 1981 French Film Company revival, presented in Japan as a 「完全版・ニュープリント」 — “Complete Version / New Print.”
Directed by Marcel Carné from a screenplay by poet Jacques Prévert, the film stars Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Pierre Brasseur, María Casarès and Marcel Herrand. Set amid the theatres and crowded boulevards of 1830s–1840s Paris, its sweeping story revolves around the beautiful and elusive Garance and the four very different men drawn to her, particularly the celebrated mime Baptiste Deburau. Produced under extraordinarily difficult conditions during the German occupation of France, it has become one of the defining masterpieces of French poetic realism.
The timing of this Japanese revival was particularly significant. In 1979, the film was selected as the greatest French sound film in a major French poll, while in 1980 it was ranked No. 1 in Kinema Junpo’s survey of the greatest foreign films ever released in Japan—both accolades are proudly printed directly on this poster.
Poster design
A superb Japan-specific revival design that deliberately evokes the ornamental world of the 19th-century Parisian theatre. The entire sheet is framed by an elegant burgundy border over a pale cream ground decorated with delicate, swirling green motifs, giving it the appearance of a vintage theatrical programme or playbill.
At the centre is a large black-and-white production image featuring Jean-Louis Barrault as Baptiste, Arletty as Garance, and the theatrical world that forms the heart of the film. Surrounding the central image are oval portraits of the principal characters, reinforcing the film’s great ensemble structure.
The elaborate orange Japanese title 天井桟敷の人々 dominates the upper section, with the original two-part structure clearly identified beneath:
第1部「犯罪大通り」 — Part One: “Boulevard of Crime”
第2部「白い男」 — Part Two: “The Man in White”
The poster also prominently states 「今よみがえる…傑作中の傑作」 — approximately “Now revived… a masterpiece among masterpieces”, together with 「完全版・ニュープリント」, firmly identifying this as the celebrated complete-version revival campaign rather than an original 1952 Japanese release sheet.
The combination of ornate Belle Époque-inspired graphics, monochrome film photography, portrait medallions and bold orange typography makes this an unusually elegant Japanese design for one of the great landmarks of world cinema.
It is over 45 years old!
Condition
Excellent. The cream ground remains exceptionally clean, while the orange, green and burgundy printing retains excellent colour and definition. There are only very minor signs of age and handling, with no significant condition issues affecting the central artwork or typography. Please review the photo—it shows the exact poster for sale.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
