This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1968 for Black Lizard (黒蜥蜴), the legendary cult crime-thriller directed by Kinji Fukasaku (深作欣二) and released by Shochiku (松竹). The film stars Akihiro Miwa (credited at the time as 丸山明宏) as the dazzling jewel thief “Black Lizard,” opposite Isao Kimura as master detective Kogorō Akechi—with an unforgettable supporting appearance by Yukio Mishima.
Film background
Based on Edogawa Ranpo’s famous detective fiction—via Yukio Mishima’s stage adaptation—Black Lizard is a feverish blend of heist film, detective mystery, camp glamour, and gothic-romantic obsession, as Akechi is drawn into a cat-and-mouse duel with the charismatic criminal who may be his mirror image. It’s one of the most iconic “deep-cult” Japanese films of the 1960s, celebrated for its theatricality, transgressive style, and the sheer magnetism of Miwa’s performance.
Poster design
A stunning, high-impact Japan-only design that distils the film’s decadent mood into one unforgettable tableau: Miwa’s glamorous thief in a white gown, framed by a dramatic white bird (a surreal symbol of beauty and menace), with a vertical strip of character portraits and razor-sharp taglines building tension. The enormous blood-red 黒蜥蜴 title typography dominates the left side like a threat, while the composition balances noir danger with theatrical elegance—pure late-Shōwa graphic power and an exceptionally displayable piece for any serious cult-cinema collection.
Condition
Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
It is over 57 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
