“The Hospital” (ホスピタル), Original First Release Japanese Movie Poster 1971, Rare, STB Size 20x57" (51x145cm) ZA454
This is an original Japanese STB tatekan (two‑panel standing) poster printed in 1971 for the first Japanese theatrical release of The Hospital (ホスピタル), directed by Arthur Hiller and written by Paddy Chayefsky.
Film background
The Hospital is a dark satirical drama starring George C. Scott as a beleaguered chief of medicine at a chaotic New York teaching hospital. As medical errors, bureaucratic absurdity and personal crises pile up, the film skewers institutional incompetence while following Scott’s character through a breakdown that veers between tragedy and pitch‑black humour. The screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky (who later wrote Network) won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and is widely admired for its razor‑sharp dialogue and critique of modern institutions.
Poster design
The STB design is both stylish and unsettling. The upper portion features bold vertical colour bands in black, burgundy and magenta alongside the large red Japanese title “ホスピタル”, giving the layout a modern graphic feel. The lower half is dominated by a powerful photo‑montage of George C. Scott, stethoscope around his neck, staring directly at the viewer with a mixture of exhaustion and menace. Behind him we see hospital staff, patients and operating‑theatre imagery, hinting at the chaos that surrounds his character. An Oscars motif and Japanese copy at the bottom highlight the film’s critical acclaim.
Rarity and condition
Compared with mainstream action or genre pictures, Japanese posters for serious Hollywood satires like The Hospital were printed in smaller quantities and have a much lower survival rate. STB formats in particular were used hard and often discarded after the run, so intact originals are not easy to find.
This example is in very good condition. The colours are still strong and the artwork presents very well overall, consistent with storage over five decades. Please review the photos closely to judge condition for yourself.
It is over 54 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
