“The King and I” (王様と私 / The King and I), Original Japanese Re-Release Movie Poster 1962, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) P300

This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1962 for the Japanese re-release of The King and I, the celebrated Rodgers and Hammerstein musical starring Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, and Rita Moreno. Originally released in 1956, the film had already established itself as one of the great Hollywood musicals of its era, and this Japanese re-release poster captures its grandeur beautifully, with elegant costume imagery, romantic tension, and the prestige of its 70mm presentation all foregrounded.

Film background
The King and I is the fifth musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, based on Margaret Landon’s novel Anna and the King of Siam, itself derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. The story follows Anna, a British schoolteacher brought to Siam as part of the King’s effort to modernise his country. Their relationship is marked by conflict, mutual respect, and an emotional tension that neither can openly admit. First premiering on Broadway in 1951, the musical became one of the great stage successes of its period, and the 1956 film adaptation remains its most famous screen incarnation.

Poster design
This Japanese poster is a superb example of prestige roadshow musical design. The composition is dominated by the central dance image of Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr, with Kerr’s sweeping lavender gown giving the sheet wonderful movement and colour. Around them are elegant supporting vignettes, including Rita Moreno, palace architecture, and smaller romantic scene details, all reinforcing the film’s combination of spectacle, emotion, and exotic pageantry. The large pink-red Japanese title 王様と私 has tremendous wall presence, while the 70mm and 総天然色 callouts underline exactly how the film was sold to audiences: as a major widescreen colour event.

Condition
Excellent (Close to near mint). Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 60 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.