“ROMAN HOLIDAY” (ローマの休日) — Original Japanese First Revival (Re‑release) Cinema Poster, 1963, B2 size (c. 51 × 73 cm) O853
This is an original Japanese B2 poster for William Wyler’s Roman Holiday, produced for the film’s first Japanese revival / re‑release in 1963—a particularly desirable era for collectors, as it captures the moment the film shifted from contemporary hit to beloved evergreen classic on Japanese screens.
Film background
Roman Holiday is one of the defining screen romances of classic Hollywood: a runaway princess tasting ordinary life for the first time, and the reporter who recognizes her—then finds himself torn between a scoop and something real. The story’s emotional power comes from its balance of escapist glamour and everyday tenderness, building toward a famously bittersweet finish that helped cement the film as a lifetime rewatch for audiences around the world.
Poster design
The design is pure mid‑century elegance—a “framed photograph” concept that treats the film almost like a souvenir from an impossibly beautiful trip. The ornate grey border gives the sheet a formal, commemorative feel, while the imagery delivers the film’s two worlds at a glance: at the top, Audrey Hepburn in full princess regalia (tiara, jewels, and courtly pageantry); below, the couple in crisp, casual street clothes, looking like they’ve escaped into a private, ordinary happiness.
The Japanese title 「ローマの休日」 is printed in a rich, sophisticated magenta that reads like refined calligraphy rather than loud advertising, and the vertical copy on the right plays up the fairytale premise—a princess “leaping into the streets” and the romance that follows. A delicate line drawing of the Duomo adds a travel‑postcard note, grounding the fantasy in a specific European atmosphere without cluttering the composition.
Audrey in Japan
This poster also speaks directly to Japan’s long‑standing affection for Audrey Hepburn—an image of grace, warmth, and modern femininity that has resonated for decades. The Japanese presentation here leans into that admiration: she is framed not just as a star, but as an icon—poised, luminous, and instantly unforgettable, with the design giving her the reverence of a classic portrait.
Cinema‑used provenance and condition
A standout feature of this example is the paper exhibitor notice affixed at the bottom, which makes it unmistakably cinema‑used—the kind of real‑world, time‑and‑place detail collectors love. The added paper reads 「15日より23日まで」 (“From the 15th to the 23rd”) and 「同時上映 エデンの東」 (“Double feature: East of Eden”), an evocative programming pairing that turns the poster into a genuine artifact of Japanese theatre exhibition rather than a clean, anonymous spare. The bold black band across the bottom with 「阪急文化」 (Hankyu Bunka) further reinforces its original cinema context, and it’s simply cool to have a sheet that still carries the theatre’s own presentation intact.
Condition is excellent overall—especially for a piece that was actually used in a cinema setting. There are typical fold lines and light handling wear consistent with Japanese distribution and display, but the colours remain strong, the images present beautifully, and the attached exhibitor paper is a distinctive surviving feature that adds character and authenticity. The reverse shows expected show‑through and storage/handling evidence, consistent with genuine period use. Please inspect the photos carefully as they show the exact poster for sale.
It is over 60 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
