{"product_id":"little-big-man-小さな巨人-original-release-japanese-movie-poster-1971-dustin-hoffman-b2-size-51-73-cm-t98-copy","title":"“Melba” (メルバ), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1954, Patrice Munsel, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) — T99","description":"\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 theatrical poster for the 1954 first Japanese release of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMelba\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, distributed jointly by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShochiku and United Artists\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The film opened in Japan on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e15 January 1954\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, bringing its Technicolor celebration of opera, romance and theatrical spectacle to Japanese audiences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDirected by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLewis Milestone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the 1953 musical biography stars Metropolitan Opera soprano \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePatrice Munsel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e as the Australian singer Dame Nellie Melba. With a screenplay by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarry Kurnitz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the film follows her journey from Australia to the European opera stage, exploring the competing demands of artistic ambition and personal relationships. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRobert Morley, John McCallum, John Justin and Martita Hunt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e complete the principal cast.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe poster centres on a glamorous illustration of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMunsel in a sweeping gold-and-black evening gown\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, her arms extended in performance. Sparkling jewellery, scattered stars and a curling musical stave surround her, turning the portrait into a celebration of the prima donna’s stage presence. Her long dress carries the composition almost the full height of the sheet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAcross the upper section, the enormous Japanese title \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eメルバ\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e flows in brilliant red lettering edged in yellow, set against pink theatrical curtains. The multicoloured \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e総天然色\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e lettering—“Full Colour”—reinforces the visual spectacle, while the smaller English \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMelba\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e title and Technicolor credit appear at the left.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA detailed musical programme occupies the centre-right, accompanied by colourful scenes of costumed performers, operatic ensembles and ballet. The romantic embrace at the lower left introduces the private life behind the public performance. Together, these elements give the poster the richness of an illustrated theatre programme, inviting the viewer to explore its many details.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe promotional line across the top reads:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「豪壮華麗！七色の虹に描く美しきプリマドンナの恋と歌の一生！」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Grand and glorious! A beautiful prima donna’s life of love and song, painted in all the colours of the rainbow!”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn elegant example of early-1950s Japanese film advertising, with particular appeal for collectors of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eopera, musical cinema, Patrice Munsel and vintage theatrical design\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: Very Good+, especially given its age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePreviously folded and subsequently stored flat. The colours remain strong, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eonce framed, this poster will display excellently\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease review \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eall photographs, including the front, reverse and detailed close-ups\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, as they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapanese B2 format: approximately 51 × 73 cm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStock code: T99.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enot a reproduction or a reprint\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout Japanese B2 posters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapanese B2 posters typically measure approximately 51 × 73 cm and were produced for theatrical display. Their distinctive combinations of photography, illustration, typography and locally written promotional copy offer a fascinating record of how films were presented to Japanese audiences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57332342555002,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-10-01T174044.284.jpg?v=1790844057","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/little-big-man-%e5%b0%8f%e3%81%95%e3%81%aa%e5%b7%a8%e4%ba%ba-original-release-japanese-movie-poster-1971-dustin-hoffman-b2-size-51-73-cm-t98-copy","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}