“Pantomimes” (パントマイム), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1956 (film 1955), B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) P148

This is a very rare, original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1956 for the first Japanese release of Pantomimes (パントマイム), a documentary film celebrating the artistry of the legendary French mime Marcel Marceau. Issued in Japan through Tōwa (東和), this is an exceptionally scarce surviving piece of mid-1950s performance / art-film ephemera—material that was designed for short-term cinema display and almost always discarded.

Film background
Produced in 1955, Pantomimes captures Marceau at the height of his early fame, presenting his craft as a true modern performing art—silent, physical storytelling built from gesture, rhythm, and emotion. By the mid-1950s Marceau had already become an international cultural figure, and Japanese releases like this reflect the post-war appetite for European stage and art cinema, especially works that brought “high” performance into the movie theatre.

Poster design
A striking, design-forward Japanese composition: a deep black field is punctuated by huge mint-green katakana typography (パントマイム) and a constellation of expressive Marceau stills—leaping, collapsing, grimacing, and transforming his body into pure narrative. At centre, his face is framed within a bold circular motif, reinforcing the idea of the performer as the entire universe of the film. The typography and layout feel unusually modern for 1956—graphic, minimal, and museum-worthy—making this a superb crossover piece for collectors of French culture, performance art, and mid-century Japanese poster design.

Condition
Very Good. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
Previously folded and subsequently stored flat.

It is over 69 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.