{"product_id":"the-brothers-karamazov-カラマゾフの兄弟-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1958-b2-size-51-73-cm-l172","title":"“The Brothers Karamazov” (カラマゾフの兄弟), Original Japanese First-Release Movie Poster 1958, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) L172","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 theatrical release poster\u003c\/strong\u003e, printed for the \u003cstrong\u003e1958 first Japanese cinema release\u003c\/strong\u003e of Richard Brooks’ adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s monumental novel \u003cstrong\u003eThe Brothers Karamazov\u003c\/strong\u003e (カラマゾフの兄弟), starring \u003cstrong\u003eYul Brynner, Maria Schell, Claire Bloom, Lee J. Cobb and Richard Basehart\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe film’s first Japanese theatrical release is recorded as \u003cstrong\u003e28 February 1958\u003c\/strong\u003e, distributed by \u003cstrong\u003eMGM\u003c\/strong\u003e. Directed and scripted by \u003cstrong\u003eRichard Brooks\u003c\/strong\u003e and produced by \u003cstrong\u003ePandro S. Berman\u003c\/strong\u003e, the film was photographed by celebrated cinematographer \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Alton\u003c\/strong\u003e and presented in colour. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFilm background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdapted from \u003cstrong\u003eFyodor Dostoevsky’s\u003c\/strong\u003e great 1880 novel, the film centres on the turbulent Karamazov family and the destructive relationship between the dissolute patriarch \u003cstrong\u003eFyodor Karamazov\u003c\/strong\u003e and his sons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYul Brynner\u003c\/strong\u003e stars as the passionate Dmitri, while \u003cstrong\u003eMaria Schell\u003c\/strong\u003e plays Grushenka and \u003cstrong\u003eClaire Bloom\u003c\/strong\u003e appears as Katya. \u003cstrong\u003eLee J. Cobb\u003c\/strong\u003e gives a ferocious performance as Fyodor Karamazov, with \u003cstrong\u003eRichard Basehart\u003c\/strong\u003e as Ivan and a young \u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Shatner\u003c\/strong\u003e as Alexey. Cobb’s performance earned him an \u003cstrong\u003eAcademy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the film was also presented in competition at the \u003cstrong\u003e1958 Cannes Film Festival\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe adaptation condenses Dostoevsky’s immense philosophical novel into a sweeping Hollywood drama of \u003cstrong\u003efamily conflict, jealousy, desire, inheritance, guilt and murder\u003c\/strong\u003e, placing particular emphasis on the volatile relationships between Dmitri, Grushenka, Katya and the elder Karamazov.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoster design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA superb and dramatically composed \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese first-release design\u003c\/strong\u003e, dominated by enormous colour-tinted portraits of \u003cstrong\u003eYul Brynner\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eMaria Schell\u003c\/strong\u003e against a near-black background.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrynner’s shaved head and intensely lit face occupy much of the left side, while Schell’s portrait rises from the lower right. Between them, a jagged vertical strip of torn white paper slices through the composition, carrying the striking Japanese campaign line:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「互に憎悪し、欲望し、乱れ争う息づまるような人間劇!!」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“A breathtaking human drama of mutual hatred, desire and chaotic conflict!”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe torn-paper device is particularly effective, visually suggesting the \u003cstrong\u003efractured family relationships and violent emotional divisions\u003c\/strong\u003e at the heart of Dostoevsky’s story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBehind the principal portraits, a series of monochrome dramatic scenes provides glimpses of the film’s darker emotional world: a musical performance, a reclining woman, and \u003cstrong\u003eLee J. Cobb’s Fyodor Karamazov\u003c\/strong\u003e caught in an expression of almost manic intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe English title:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM-G-M Presents\u003cbr\u003eTHE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eappears discreetly in white beneath Brynner’s portrait, while the Japanese cast billing prominently identifies:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eユール・ブリンナー\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eマリア・シェル\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eクレア・ブルーム\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ewith \u003cstrong\u003eRichard Basehart\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eLee J. Cobb\u003c\/strong\u003e beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the top left, the poster proudly announces:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「総天然色　メトロスコープ」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— advertising the film’s \u003cstrong\u003efull-colour Metroscope presentation\u003c\/strong\u003e, an important selling point for Japanese audiences during the late 1950s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe massive cream-coloured Japanese title:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「カラマゾフの兄弟」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003estretches across the bottom against the dark background, accompanied by the \u003cstrong\u003eMGM lion emblem\u003c\/strong\u003e at lower right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of \u003cstrong\u003eblack negative space, sepia portraiture, vivid red and blue Japanese typography, torn-paper graphics and enormous star portraits\u003c\/strong\u003e gives this poster exceptional visual power. It is a quintessential example of sophisticated late-1950s Japanese advertising for a major American literary production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst-release significance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an authentic poster from the film’s \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal 1958 Japanese theatrical campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than a later revival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJapanese B2 posters from the \u003cstrong\u003e1950s\u003c\/strong\u003e survive in substantially smaller numbers than material from later decades. They were working cinema advertising pieces, often pinned, pasted, folded, or discarded after their theatrical run, and strong surviving examples for major Hollywood productions are increasingly difficult to source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe presence of \u003cstrong\u003eYul Brynner, Maria Schell, Claire Bloom and Lee J. Cobb\u003c\/strong\u003e, combined with the Dostoevsky source material and the distinctive MGM-era Japanese graphic treatment, gives this sheet particularly strong crossover appeal for collectors of \u003cstrong\u003eclassic Hollywood, literary adaptations and vintage Japanese poster design\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is over \u003cstrong\u003e68 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcellent.\u003c\/strong\u003e An unusually strong surviving example for an original Japanese theatrical poster from \u003cstrong\u003e1958\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster retains \u003cstrong\u003eexcellent colour and contrast\u003c\/strong\u003e, with the deep black field remaining strong and the warm portrait tones, red typography and cream title still presenting beautifully. The principal imagery is clean and highly impactful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse is also remarkably clean overall for a sheet approaching seven decades old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnce framed, it will display exceptionally well.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease review the front and reverse photographs carefully—they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is not a reproduction or reprint.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57245031334266,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-09-08T171059.259.jpg?v=1788855116","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/the-brothers-karamazov-%e3%82%ab%e3%83%a9%e3%83%9e%e3%82%be%e3%83%95%e3%81%ae%e5%85%84%e5%bc%9f-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1958-b2-size-51-73-cm-l172","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}