“Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book” (ジャングル・ブック), Original Japanese First-Release Movie Poster 1951, B2 Size (c. 51 × 73 cm) ZA1277

An original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for Zoltán Korda’s Jungle Book, starring Sabu as Mowgli. First released in 1942, the Technicolor adventure opened in Japan on 12 June 1951. The credits along the foot of the poster name Towa as presenter and Toho as distributor.

In Excellent condition, with the yellow Japanese title, Mowgli’s deep red trousers and the orange stripes of Shere Khan all retaining strong colour.

Film background

Raised by wolves, Mowgli returns to an Indian village where his mother, Messua (Rosemary DeCamp), recognises the son she lost as a child. When he leads his friend Mahala (Patricia O’Rourke) to a ruined city, a single gold coin brings its hidden treasure to the attention of her father, the hunter Buldeo (Joseph Calleia). Three Korda brothers brought Kipling’s stories to the screen. Alexander produced, Zoltán directed and Vincent oversaw the design of the jungle and village sets in California.

Poster design

Mowgli crouches on a sloping tree trunk with his knife raised. Below him, a green snake rises from its coils at the left while Shere Khan bares his fangs at the right. Mowgli appears a second time in the distance, riding the lead elephant across the water beneath the towers of the ruined city. The Japanese title runs down the right edge in yellow, while the English title and Technicolor credit sit beneath the tree trunk.

Across the top, the characters in 総天然色 (“full colour”) are each printed in a different colour. The full headline reads
「映画史上空前絶後の　総天然色猛獣冒険映画！」
“A full-colour wild-animal adventure unlike anything in cinema history!”

Condition

Excellent overall. A central vertical fold and three horizontal folds are clearest on the reverse, where the artwork shows through the paper. Please review the front and reverse photographs for the full condition.

An original vintage Japanese theatrical poster from the film’s 1951 first release in Japan.
Over 75 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.