“The Grifters” (グリフターズ／詐欺師たち), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1991 (film 1990), B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) P127

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster produced for the first Japanese cinema release of Stephen Frears’ acclaimed neo-noir crime thriller The Grifters (グリフターズ／詐欺師たち), starring Anjelica Huston, John Cusack and Annette Bening. The film was produced in 1990 and first opened theatrically in Japan on 14 September 1991, presented by Pioneer LDC and distributed by Eurospace.

Adapted by Donald E. Westlake from the hard-boiled novel by Jim Thompson, the film centres on three professional con artists in Los Angeles: small-time grifter Roy Dillon, his formidable mother Lilly, and his seductive girlfriend Myra. Their competing schemes, loyalties and desires develop into an increasingly dangerous triangle of seduction, betrayal and deception. Produced by Martin Scorsese alongside Robert A. Harris and Jim Painten, the film received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Director for Frears, Best Actress for Huston, Best Supporting Actress for Bening and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Poster design
A superb Japanese first-release design built around an exceptionally stylish three-panel portrait of Anjelica Huston, John Cusack and Annette Bening, each wearing dark sunglasses—a simple visual device that perfectly captures the film’s world of concealed motives and professional deception.

The almost black upper field is dominated by the bold white Japanese title グリフターズ, with 詐欺師たち — “The Swindlers / The Con Artists” picked out above in individual green circles. The red English THE GRIFTERS cuts dynamically across the central portraits.

The vertical Japanese tagline on the right reads 「大人の愛はだましあい」 — approximately “Adult love is a game of deception.” Alongside it, the Japanese campaign prominently lists the film’s major critical honours and four 1991 Academy Award nominations, positioning the picture as both a sophisticated crime thriller and a major prestige release.

The tightly cropped faces, dark sunglasses, intense orange-red photographic tones and almost completely black background create a sleek, dangerous early-1990s neo-noir aesthetic, making this a particularly striking Japanese design for the film.

It is 35 years old!

Condition
Excellent. The poster retains superb colour saturation, with the deep blacks, fiery portrait tones, red English typography and crisp white Japanese lettering remaining exceptionally strong. There are only very minor signs of age and handling, with no significant condition issues affecting the central artwork or typography. Please review the photo—it shows the exact poster for sale.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.