“Finian’s Rainbow” / 「フィニアンの虹」, Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1968, Francis Ford Coppola / Fred Astaire, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) C272
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1968 for the first Japanese release of Finian’s Rainbow (フィニアンの虹), the Technicolor / Panavision musical fantasy directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Fred Astaire, Petula Clark, and Tommy Steele.
A colourful and charming late-1960s musical poster, this Japanese B2 is especially notable for bringing together Fred Astaire’s classic screen presence with the early directorial career of Francis Ford Coppola, before his major 1970s breakthrough.
Film background
Based on the Broadway musical by E. Y. Harburg and Burton Lane, Finian’s Rainbow follows Finian McLonergan, played by Fred Astaire, as he travels from Ireland to America with a stolen pot of gold, pursued by a leprechaun determined to recover it. The film blends fantasy, romance, satire, and musical spectacle, with songs including “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, “Look to the Rainbow”, “Old Devil Moon”, and “If This Isn’t Love.”
The film occupies a fascinating place in cinema history: a grand old-style Hollywood musical directed by a young Coppola, combining classical musical entertainment with the changing mood of late-1960s American filmmaking.
Poster design
This Japanese B2 features a lively and elegant composition set against a deep black background decorated with small red star motifs.
The top is dominated by the large pink Japanese title フィニアンの虹, written in a graceful, curling script. A pale blue badge at the upper right announces Technicolor / Panavision, while the original English title Finian’s Rainbow appears at left in a playful rainbow-coloured style.
At centre-left, Fred Astaire and Petula Clark are shown walking together in a full-length cut-out image, Astaire carrying his distinctive carpetbag. On the right, three decorative portrait vignettes present Fred Astaire, Petula Clark, and Tommy Steele, each framed in pink scalloped borders.
The central Japanese copy reads in part:
「美しい虹を追いかけよう 遠い丘のかなたまで――」
“Let us chase the beautiful rainbow, beyond the distant hills—”
and describes the film as a joyful and luxurious musical fantasy. Beneath the main figures, the poster highlights the musical appeal with the English line “The Songs! The Songs! The Songs!”, followed by several of the film’s best-known numbers.
Across the lower section, a horizontal strip of stills shows scenes of romance, song, dance, and fantasy, while the bottom margin carries the Japanese cast and crew credits, including Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Astaire, Petula Clark, Tommy Steele, and Burton Lane. The Warner Bros.-Seven Arts mark appears along the lower edge.
Collector significance
This poster has strong appeal across several collecting fields: classic Hollywood musicals, Fred Astaire, Francis Ford Coppola, 1960s Japanese film design, and Technicolor / Panavision musical advertising.
Its design is bright, whimsical, and highly displayable, combining photographic stills, decorative typography, and period Japanese layout in a way that is very characteristic of late-1960s imported musical promotion.
Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photo carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.
The poster presents beautifully, with strong colour, crisp typography, clean imagery, and excellent overall display impact. Minor signs of age and handling may be visible, consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster from this period.
This is an original 1968 Japanese theatrical B2 poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 55 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
