This is an original, ultra-rare Japanese poster printed in 1956 for the first Japanese release of The Man with the Golden Arm — one of the most daring and controversial films of its era.
Now over 68 years old, this poster remains in mint condition, a truly remarkable survival given its rarity and historical significance.
Directed by Otto Preminger and starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, and Kim Novak, the film broke boundaries by portraying drug addiction at a time when the subject was considered taboo and widely censored. The film defied the Motion Picture Production Code and helped pave the way for more realistic, adult-themed storytelling in Hollywood.
The poster features the now-iconic jagged black arm designed by legendary graphic artist Saul Bass, whose work redefined the art of film promotion. In the U.S., the film's premiere famously displayed a massive nine-foot banner of just the jagged arm — a bold minimalist approach. However, studio demands for star visibility led to the addition of character portraits in other promotional versions, as seen on this Japanese design.
This Japanese poster elegantly blends Bass's modernist artwork with expressive character illustrations and bold Japanese typography — making it one of the most visually compelling versions released worldwide.
We shipped this poster from Tokyo to California, where it was professionally conservation linen-backed by one of the world’s leading poster restoration studios. Their work ensures it will be preserved and protected for decades to come.
It is over 68 years old!
This poster is in mint condition. Please refer to the imagery as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.