“Nana” / 「女優ナナ」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1955, B2 Size (51.5 × 72.8 cm) G254

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the original Japanese release of Nana / 「女優ナナ」, Christian-Jaque’s lavish 1955 French historical drama starring Martine Carol and Charles Boyer.

Based on Émile Zola’s celebrated 1880 novel, the film was released theatrically in Japan on 18 June 1955 through Shin-Gaiei and Eiha.

Film background

Set during the Second French Empire, the film follows Nana, a beautiful and ambitious Parisian actress whose theatrical fame gives her access to the highest levels of French society.

Although her talent on the stage is limited, Nana’s beauty, confidence, and seductive personality make her an immediate sensation. Wealthy admirers compete for her attention, showering her with money, jewellery, property, and social influence.

Among the men drawn into her orbit is Count Muffat, played by Charles Boyer, a respectable and deeply religious aristocrat whose fascination with Nana gradually develops into destructive obsession.

As Nana moves between the theatre, fashionable salons, luxurious residences, and the private lives of powerful men, she exposes the hypocrisy and moral decay beneath the polished surface of Parisian high society.

Directed by Christian-Jaque, the screenplay was written by Jean Ferry, Henri Jeanson, and Christian-Jaque, based on the novel by Émile Zola.

The cinematography was by Christian Matras, with music composed by Georges Van Parys.

The principal cast includes Martine Carol as Nana and Charles Boyer as Count Muffat, together with Noël Roquevert, Jean Debucourt, Walter Chiari, and Paul Frankeur. The Japanese film record identifies the production as a 1955 French colour drama directed by Christian-Jaque.

The film was conceived as an opulent showcase for Martine Carol, one of France’s most prominent international stars and screen personalities of the early 1950s.

Its elaborate costumes, extravagant interiors, theatrical settings, and rich colour photography recreate the luxury and decadence of nineteenth-century Paris.

Poster design

The poster uses a dramatic full-colour portrait of Martine Carol as Nana, surrounded by French and Japanese typography and a vertical sequence of monochrome film stills.

Nana dominates the centre and right side of the composition. She is shown in a provocative black lace costume with long lace-up boots, decorative pink flowers, and an elaborate black-and-red feathered accessory.

Her turned pose, direct gaze, and broad smile create an image that is simultaneously theatrical, playful, and deliberately seductive.

She holds a large ruffled parasol or fan decorated in red, white, and black. The curves of the costume and accessory contrast with the dark green background and strengthen the poster’s cabaret-like atmosphere.

The design presents Martine Carol not simply as the film’s principal actress, but as the embodiment of Nana’s glamour, confidence, and dangerous allure.

Running down the left margin is a vertical filmstrip containing eight monochrome production stills.

The images show Nana performing, entertaining admirers, appearing in luxurious interiors, and interacting with the men whose lives become entangled with hers.

These smaller scenes introduce the film’s combination of theatrical spectacle, romance, jealousy, social ambition, and emotional ruin.

At upper centre, the enormous yellow Japanese title reads:

「女優ナナ」

“Actress Nana.”

The title’s elegant brush-like characters complement the nineteenth-century setting while remaining immediately visible against the dark background.

Beside Nana, the French promotional text reads:

MARTINE CAROL
CHARLES BOYER
DANS
NANA

followed by:

un film en couleurs de
CHRISTIAN-JAQUE
TECHNICOLOR

“Martine Carol and Charles Boyer in Nana, a colour film by Christian-Jaque, in Technicolor.”

The large yellow vertical text on the right identifies the principal stars:

「マルチーヌ・キャロル
シャルル・ボワイエ主演」

“Starring Martine Carol and Charles Boyer.”

The pale-gold promotional text along the far-right margin reads:

「絢爛たる情痴！魔性の柔肌！一世を風靡した文豪ゾラ傑作の映画化」

“Resplendent passion! Bewitching beauty! The film adaptation of literary master Zola’s celebrated masterpiece that captivated an era.”

The language presents the film as a combination of literary prestige, romantic decadence, and sensual spectacle.

The director is prominently credited at lower right:

「巨匠クリスチャン・ジャック監督」

“Directed by master filmmaker Christian-Jaque.”

Near the lower-left centre, the multicoloured characters read:

「総天然色」

“Full natural colour.”

The surrounding Japanese credits identify Émile Zola as the author of the original novel, Christian-Jaque as director and co-screenwriter, Christian Matras as cinematographer, and Georges Van Parys as composer.

The green banner along the bottom records the joint Japanese distribution:

「映配株式会社・新外映 共同配給」

“Jointly distributed by Eiha Co., Ltd. and Shin-Gaiei.”

Design note

The poster’s individual designer is uncredited, as was common with Japanese theatrical advertising for imported films during the 1950s.

The layout combines imported French publicity photography with distinctive Japanese typography and a locally arranged filmstrip composition.

The almost life-size image of Martine Carol, rich black and red costume, golden title lettering, and small dramatic stills capture the visual language of glamorous post-war European cinema advertising.

The Japanese campaign places particular emphasis on Carol’s status as an international star while also promoting the literary prestige of Émile Zola and the film’s luxurious Technicolor production.

Its combination of glamour photography, provocative costuming, hand-rendered typography, and mid-century Japanese graphic design makes it an exceptional surviving poster from the period.

Release note

Nana was produced and released theatrically in 1955.

It received its original Japanese theatrical release under the title:

「女優ナナ」

This poster was printed for the film’s original 1955 Japanese theatrical release.

It is a standard Japanese B2-size theatrical poster, measuring approximately:

51.5 × 72.8 cm / 20.3 × 28.7 inches

It is an original period Japanese cinema poster, not a later reproduction or commercial reprint.

Condition

Excellent condition. A highly attractive example with rich colour, strong photographic imagery, clear typography, and exceptional overall display impact.

There are light signs of age and handling consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster from 1955, including gentle creasing and minor edge and corner wear. Age-related toning, scattered foxing, and some image transfer are visible from the reverse.

These signs are entirely consistent with the poster’s considerable age and do not significantly detract from its appearance. The front remains vibrant and presents extremely well.

Reference: G254.

Please review the photographs carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.

This is an original 1955 Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is now over 70 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.