“Roar” / 「ロアーズ」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1982, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) E273
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the 1982 Japanese release of Roar / 「ロアーズ」, Noel Marshall’s extraordinary 1981 animal-survival thriller starring Tippi Hedren, Noel Marshall, and Melanie Griffith.
Filmed with dozens of largely untrained lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, and jaguars, Roar became notorious for its exceptionally hazardous production. The Japanese campaign presents the film as an unprecedented spectacle, filling the poster with an overwhelming assembly of big cats.
Film background
The story follows Hank, an eccentric naturalist living on an isolated African reserve among a vast collection of free-roaming predators.
His estranged wife, Madelaine, travels from the United States with their children to visit him. When Hank is delayed, the family enters the compound alone, unaware that the animals have taken control of the house and surrounding property.
What begins as a reunion becomes a sustained struggle for survival as lions, tigers, panthers, and other big cats swarm through rooms, climb across roofs, overturn furniture, and pursue the family throughout the reserve.
The film was written and directed by Noel Marshall, who also produced it with Tippi Hedren. Marshall had previously served as an executive producer of The Exorcist.
The principal cast includes:
Tippi Hedren
Noel Marshall
Melanie Griffith
John Marshall
Jerry Marshall
The cinematography was by Jan de Bont, who later directed Speed and Twister, with music composed by Terence P. Minogue.
Production extended over many years and was disrupted by financial difficulties, flooding, and repeated animal-related injuries. Several members of the cast and crew required extensive medical treatment, giving Roar its enduring reputation as one of the most dangerous feature films ever attempted.
Although it initially struggled commercially, the film later developed a considerable cult following because of its unique production history and extraordinary footage of performers interacting directly with real predators.
Poster design
This spectacular Japanese poster is divided into two dense fields of animal imagery.
The upper section is filled almost completely by the faces of lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, and cougars. Some stare directly towards the viewer, while others bare their teeth or roar with open jaws.
A large male lion occupies the centre, surrounded by overlapping feline portraits of different scales. The tightly packed arrangement creates the impression of an unstoppable wall of predators.
The lower section depicts the chaos of the preserve. Lions and tigers climb across fallen timber and rocks while a person in red lies trapped beneath them. At right, human figures attempt to escape as aircraft and vehicles appear in the distance.
The central Japanese title:
「ロアーズ」
is printed in enormous red lettering with a yellow interior glow and heavy black outline.
Immediately above it appears the English title:
“ROAR”
in expressive blue lettering.
The black headline at lower left reads:
「アフリカ旅行の一家が襲われた！」
Translated:
“A family travelling in Africa was attacked!”
The accompanying line reads:
「さあ大変！前代未聞の映画がやって来た！」
Translated:
“What a disaster! An unprecedented film has arrived!”
The lower-right credit block identifies the principal cast and promotes Noel Marshall as the producer associated with The Exorcist. The poster also carries the mark of Japanese distributor Nippon Herald Films.
The result is a wonderfully excessive Japanese cult-film design, using the sheer number and variety of real animals to communicate danger more effectively than any conventional illustrated campaign could have done.
Condition
Excellent condition. A highly attractive example retaining vivid red, yellow, blue, and natural animal tones, clear photographic detail, sharp typography, and excellent overall display impact.
There are only light signs of age and handling consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster from this period.
Reference: E273.
Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.
This is an original Japanese theatrical poster from the film’s 1982 Japanese release campaign.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is now over 40 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
