“Last Train from Gun Hill” (ガンヒルの決斗), Original Japanese First-Release Movie Poster 1959, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) ZA1239

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster produced for the 1959 first Japanese release of Last Train from Gun Hill. Directed by John Sturges and distributed by Paramount, this tense Western stars Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Carolyn Jones and Earl Holliman. Its vivid red background and imposing photographic composition make this a particularly striking example of Japanese Western advertising from the late 1950s.

Film background
Douglas plays Marshal Matt Morgan, who pursues his wife’s killer to a town controlled by his old friend, powerful cattle baron Craig Belden, played by Quinn. Discovering that the suspect is Belden’s son, Morgan faces an increasingly dangerous confrontation as he attempts to take his prisoner away on the last train.

The film combines suspense with a bitter conflict between friendship, family loyalty and justice. The Japanese advertising connects it with Sturges’ earlier Westerns, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and The Law and Jake Wade, emphasising the director’s reputation for dramatic confrontations.

Poster design
A brilliant scarlet field gives the composition immediate impact. Kirk Douglas dominates the left, wearing a black hat and marshal’s badge, with a revolver directed outward. Beside him, Earl Holliman’s captive Rick Belden stands with a shotgun pressed beneath his chin. A smaller full-length image of Anthony Quinn appears on the right, accompanied by three silhouetted gunmen.

The enormous white Japanese title 「ガンヒルの決斗」 stretches across the upper section, balanced by yellow promotional lettering and cast names. The VistaVision logo and 「総天然色」—“full colour” billing preserve the period’s emphasis on cinematic spectacle.

A contrasting black-and-white scene at the lower right, the English title and Paramount branding complete the design.

Condition
Very Good / Excellent, especially considering its age. There is a small area of paper loss along the top edge near the upper-right corner, clearly shown in the additional close-up. The red background remains strong and the principal imagery displays beautifully.

Once framed, this poster will display very well.

Please review the photographs—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 66 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.