"The Curse of Frankenstein", Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1957, Ultra Rare, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N153

This is an original Japanese poster printed in 1957 by Towa for the first release of The Curse of Frankenstein (フランケンシュタインの逆襲), Hammer Films’ watershed colour-horror classic directed by Terence Fisher and starring Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein with Christopher Lee as the Monster. A landmark that launched Hammer’s Gothic cycle, the film’s bold Eastmancolor gore and operatic tone shocked audiences and became an international hit (grossing over £2 million worldwide).

Printed for the film’s initial theatrical run, this scarce original B2 (半裁) poster is highly prized and commands a premium—a true piece of mid-century paper ephemera now nearly 70 years old.

Why this example is extraordinary (rarity & market)
Two distinct Japanese B2 designs were issued. The more commonly seen version has surfaced only a few times in the past decade (we handled two; another realized US $6,000 at Heritage Auctions in April 2022).

This sheet is the far rarer variant—we have never seen it offered for sale in Japan or by the major Western auction houses. It comes from the private archive of a renowned Japanese movie-memorabilia collector and represents a true once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Poster design
A sensational photomontage drenched in Eastmancolor hues: a looming close-up of the Monster burns with sickly blue-green and crimson highlights; a giant clawing hand rakes across the foreground; laboratory vignettes show Cushing amid chains and bubbling apparatus; silhouetted figures stalk a dungeon corridor. The bilingual title work is superb—the dripping scarlet Japanese logotype 「フランケンシュタインの逆襲」 anchors the base, while “THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN in EASTMANCOLOR” flashes in acid yellow. Copy blocks and credits in vibrant canary type, plus the Towa mark at lower left, complete an electrifying composition—pure Hammer horror sold the Japanese way.

Condition
Near Mint, especially remarkable given the age: completely unrestored, carefully stored for nearly seven decades. Colours are deep and saturated; paper retains excellent integrity. Please review the photos (front and back); they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 67 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.