“The Diamond Mercenaries” / 「ダイヤモンドの犬たち」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1976, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) E269

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the Japanese release of The Diamond Mercenaries / 「ダイヤモンドの犬たち」, Val Guest’s 1976 desert heist thriller starring Peter Fonda, Telly Savalas, Christopher Lee, Hugh O’Brian, O. J. Simpson, and Maud Adams.

Released in some territories as Killer Force, the film combines an elaborate diamond robbery with mercenaries, armoured vehicles, helicopters, gun battles, and large-scale desert pursuits.

Film background

The story is set around a heavily fortified diamond-mining operation in the South African desert.

Security chief Harry Webb, played by Telly Savalas, is responsible for protecting the mine and the enormous quantity of uncut diamonds stored within its compound. Unknown to him, a conspiracy is developing among men with detailed knowledge of the mine’s security arrangements.

The planned robbery brings together professional criminals and mercenaries prepared to use military weapons, vehicles, and aircraft to seize the diamonds and escape across the surrounding wilderness.

Peter Fonda plays Bradley, while Christopher Lee appears as Major Chilton. The ensemble also includes Hugh O’Brian, O. J. Simpson, Maud Adams, Ian Yule, and Warren Clarke.

As the operation begins, shifting loyalties and personal ambitions complicate the original plan. The robbery develops into an extended conflict involving automatic weapons, vehicle chases, aerial pursuit, and explosions across the desert.

The film was directed by Val Guest, whose extensive career encompassed British crime films, science fiction, comedy, and large-scale international productions.

It was produced by Nat Wachsberger and Patrick Wachsberger, with music composed by Georges Garvarentz.

The unusually varied cast—combining Peter Fonda’s countercultural screen image, Telly Savalas’s commanding television persona, Christopher Lee’s international prominence, and future Bond actress Maud Adams—has helped the film retain a following among collectors of 1970s action and heist cinema.

Poster design

This Japanese poster uses a densely layered action montage dominated by fire, smoke, weapons, vehicles, and the arid desert landscape.

At upper right, an enormous portrait of Peter Fonda as Bradley anchors the composition. Wearing white-framed sunglasses, a beard, and an open leather jacket, he is presented as the film’s principal antihero.

Behind him rises a column of dense black smoke from a burning vehicle. The shape of the smoke cuts through the centre of the poster, connecting the portrait above with the desert destruction below.

The upper-left montage assembles the principal mercenaries and security personnel carrying rifles and submachine guns. Maud Adams stands prominently at the centre, holding a long firearm, while armed figures gather around her against an aerial view of the mining complex.

At lower right, a yellow truck overturns during the desert pursuit, its rear wheels lifted high into the air. Nearby vehicles race through fire and dust while a helicopter appears above the action.

A small romantic inset at lower left shows Fonda and Adams together, introducing an element of personal intrigue amid the otherwise relentless action imagery.

The central red tagline reads:

「サハラの犬ども！欲望に喉を渇らして死ね！」

Translated:

“Dogs of the Sahara! Die with your throats parched by greed!”

The black vertical headline at left announces:

「’76最大の迫撃スーパー・アクション登場！」

Translated:

“The greatest hard-hitting super-action spectacle of 1976 arrives!”

The adjacent text describes the film’s principal attractions:

「灼きつく熱砂のド真中
巨額なダイヤ強奪に命を賭けた奴らの
壮絶なカーチェイス・銃撃戦・ヘリコプター攻防！」

Translated:

“In the heart of the scorching desert—a ferocious car chase, gun battle, and helicopter conflict fought by men risking their lives to steal a vast fortune in diamonds!”

The enormous Japanese title:

「ダイヤモンドの犬たち」

appears across the bottom in jagged red lettering. Its irregular, explosive form mirrors the smoke, wreckage, and movement throughout the composition.

Directly above it, the principal cast is identified in Japanese:

Peter Fonda
Telly Savalas
Christopher Lee

The English title:

“THE DIAMOND MERCENARIES”

appears beneath the billing, while the lower margin contains the production credits and the Toei foreign-film distribution mark.

The result is a quintessential example of 1970s Japanese action-poster design: crowded, sensational, vividly coloured, and constructed to communicate the film’s scale and violence immediately.

Condition

Excellent condition. A highly attractive example retaining strong red, orange, and black tones, clear photographic detail, sharp typography, and excellent overall display impact.

There are only light signs of age and handling consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster from this period. Overall, it presents extremely well.

Reference: E269.

Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese theatrical poster, not a reproduction or reprint.

It is approximately 50 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.