{"product_id":"the-country-girl-喝采-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1955-grace-kelly-academy-award-campaign-ultra-rare-b2-size-51-73-cm-q267","title":"“The Country Girl” (喝采), Original Japanese First-Release Movie Poster 1955, Grace Kelly Academy Award Campaign, Ultra Rare, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) Q267","description":"\u003cp\u003eA superb \u003cstrong\u003e1955 first-release Japanese B2\u003c\/strong\u003e for George Seaton’s acclaimed Paramount drama \u003cem\u003eThe Country Girl\u003c\/em\u003e, released in Japan under the title \u003cem\u003eKassai\u003c\/em\u003e (喝采)—meaning \u003cstrong\u003e“Applause”\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003e“Acclaim.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis exceptionally scarce first-run design is dominated by a magnificent, softly modelled colour portrait of Grace Kelly, accompanied by dramatic scenes featuring Bing Crosby and William Holden. The result is one of the most visually arresting Japanese Grace Kelly posters of the period: glamorous, richly coloured, and unmistakably created as a prestige presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two Academy Award statuettes incorporated into the design are especially significant. Rather than merely promoting the film’s cast, the poster explicitly celebrates \u003cstrong\u003eGrace Kelly’s Academy Award for Best Actress\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Seaton’s Academy Award for Screenplay\u003c\/strong\u003e, placing it at the intersection of Hollywood awards history and post-war Japanese cinema advertising.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate \u0026amp; Japanese Theatrical Release\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduced in 1954, \u003cem\u003eThe Country Girl\u003c\/em\u003e opened in Japan on \u003cstrong\u003e15 April 1955\u003c\/strong\u003e, during Shōwa 30. This B2 is a rare survivor from that \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese theatrical campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than a later revival or retrospective issue. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe timing is particularly notable. The 27th Academy Awards were held on \u003cstrong\u003e30 March 1955\u003c\/strong\u003e, just over two weeks before the Japanese opening. The poster’s prominent Oscar statuettes and award copy therefore formed an immediate and highly topical part of the film’s first-release publicity. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasuring approximately \u003cstrong\u003e51.5 × 72.8 cm \/ 20.3 × 28.7 in\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Japanese B2 format gives Kelly’s portrait exceptional scale and presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Film \u0026amp; Its Place in Cinema History\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten and directed by \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Seaton\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Country Girl\u003c\/em\u003e was adapted from Clifford Odets’s 1950 stage play. It stars Bing Crosby as Frank Elgin, a once-celebrated performer whose career has been diminished by alcoholism, guilt, and profound insecurity; Grace Kelly as his loyal but emotionally exhausted wife, Georgie; and William Holden as Bernie Dodd, the theatre director determined to engineer Frank’s comeback. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe film gave all three stars unusually dramatic material. Crosby was cast against his familiar screen persona as a troubled, self-destructive actor, while Kelly appeared in a deliberately restrained role, plainly dressed and presented with minimal glamour in order to emphasise Georgie’s exhaustion and emotional strength. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeneath its backstage setting, the film examines alcoholism, bereavement, dependency, professional failure, marital loyalty, and the complicated emotional triangle that develops between Frank, Georgie, and Bernie. Its seriousness and psychological candour distinguished it from more conventional star vehicles of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrace Kelly, the Academy Awards, and the Japanese Campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Country Girl\u003c\/em\u003e received \u003cstrong\u003eseven Academy Award nominations\u003c\/strong\u003e, including Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Bing Crosby, Best Actress for Grace Kelly, Screenplay, Black-and-White Cinematography, and Black-and-White Art Direction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt won in two categories:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest Actress — Grace Kelly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWriting (Screenplay) — George Seaton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are the two achievements symbolised by the statuettes printed in the upper-left portion of the poster. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKelly’s victory came in a celebrated field that also included Dorothy Dandridge, Audrey Hepburn, Jane Wyman, and Judy Garland for \u003cem\u003eA Star Is Born\u003c\/em\u003e. Garland had been widely favoured, and Kelly’s win was regarded by many contemporary observers as one of the ceremony’s notable upsets. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis award history gives the poster importance beyond its beauty. It is a period document created at the precise moment when Kelly’s transformation from glamorous rising star to Academy Award-winning dramatic actress was being presented to Japanese audiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eParamount — Period Branding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sheet retains the original \u003cstrong\u003eParamount Pictures mountain emblem\u003c\/strong\u003e in the lower-right corner, accompanied by the Japanese wording:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eパラマウント\u003cbr\u003e超特作\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Paramount — Super-Special Production.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis emphatic branding positions the film as one of Paramount’s major prestige releases rather than an ordinary imported feature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right-side blue promotional copy similarly declares:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e「伝統パラマウント・ドラマティック映画の\u003cbr\u003e最高峰を飾る不滅の名作!!」\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“An immortal masterpiece crowning the summit of Paramount’s great dramatic tradition!”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirectly beside it, the black text announces:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e「栄光に輝くグレイス・ケリー\u003cbr\u003eアカデミー最優秀主演女優賞受賞!!」\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“The glorious Grace Kelly—winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress!”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrace Kelly portraiture:\u003c\/strong\u003e The composition is dominated by an immense, softly focused colour portrait of Kelly looking upward, her vivid blue eyes and scarlet lips set against a luminous background of mint green and warm gold. The image presents her with the polished glamour of a major Hollywood star, creating a striking contrast with the deliberately subdued appearance of her character in the film.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA colour campaign for a black-and-white film:\u003c\/strong\u003e Although \u003cem\u003eThe Country Girl\u003c\/em\u003e itself was photographed in black and white, the Japanese poster uses saturated colour to transform the sober drama into an opulent star-led prestige attraction. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOscar imagery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Two black statuettes appear at upper left. The accompanying Japanese text credits George Seaton with screenplay and direction and identifies the \u003cstrong\u003eScreenplay Award\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the right-hand copy celebrates Kelly’s Best Actress victory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBing Crosby vignette:\u003c\/strong\u003e At lower left, Crosby’s Frank Elgin sits alone at a table, head lowered and hands clasped. The shadowed setting and subdued body language convey his character’s alcoholism, guilt, and loss of confidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrace Kelly and William Holden vignette:\u003c\/strong\u003e At lower right, Georgie and Bernie are shown in a passionate embrace. The image introduces the film’s romantic tension while balancing Crosby’s sombre portrait on the opposite side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMain title:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Japanese title 喝采 dominates the lower section in enormous scarlet characters edged in white. The smaller phonetic reading かっさい appears within the composition, while the English title \u003cstrong\u003eTHE COUNTRY GIRL\u003c\/strong\u003e is set in blue between the two principal characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTop promotional line:\u003c\/strong\u003e The large red text across the upper margin reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e「最高の原作、演出、演技が築いた至高の映画芸術!!」\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Supreme cinematic art created from the finest source material, direction, and acting!”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStar billing:\u003c\/strong\u003e The principal cast names are printed vertically in blue:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eグレイス・ケリー — \u003cstrong\u003eGrace Kelly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eビング・クロスビー — \u003cstrong\u003eBing Crosby\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eウィリアム・ホールデン — \u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Holden\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe entire design is exceptionally effective: Kelly’s monumental portrait supplies glamour and colour, while the two lower scenes introduce the film’s darker psychological and romantic drama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConservation \u0026amp; Condition Report\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverall condition: Excellent\u003c\/strong\u003e, with a particularly strong and impressive presentation for an original mid-1950s Japanese theatrical poster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColour:\u003c\/strong\u003e The colours remain \u003cstrong\u003eexceptionally vibrant\u003c\/strong\u003e, particularly the mint-green and golden background, Kelly’s blue eyes and scarlet lips, the red Japanese title, and the deep greens and browns of the lower montage. There is no distracting overall fading.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnbacked and unrestored:\u003c\/strong\u003e The poster remains unbacked, with its original verso fully visible. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePinholes:\u003c\/strong\u003e A small number of \u003cstrong\u003etiny pinholes\u003c\/strong\u003e are present at or near the margins and corner display points, consistent with period theatrical use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge-related characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e Light fold and handling lines, minor surface creasing, small marginal and corner imperfections, and normal age-appropriate verso toning and image show-through are visible. These remain unobtrusive and do not diminish the poster’s excellent frontal appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is \u003cstrong\u003eno significant paper loss or visually distracting damage\u003c\/strong\u003e. The central portrait remains clean, luminous, and highly impressive at full B2 scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 theatrical poster from the film’s 1955 first-release campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e. It is not a later reissue, reproduction, or reprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease review the supplied photographs carefully—front, back, and details—as they show the \u003cstrong\u003eexact poster offered\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56993974059386,"sku":null,"price":2815.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-06-22T144754.604.jpg?v=1782107320","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/the-country-girl-%e5%96%9d%e9%87%87-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1955-grace-kelly-academy-award-campaign-ultra-rare-b2-size-51-73-cm-q267","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}