“The Magnificent Seven Ride!” / 「荒野の七人 真昼の決闘」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1972 — STB Tatekan Size (51 × 145 cm) — S38

This is an original Japanese STB tatekan theatrical poster produced for the 1972 Japanese release of The Magnificent Seven Ride! / 「荒野の七人 真昼の決闘」.

Opening in Japan on 10 October 1972, the film was the fourth instalment in the original Magnificent Seven film series, with Lee Van Cleef taking the leading role of Chris Adams.

The towering two-sheet composition combines an immense expanse of cloud-filled sky, monumental Japanese lettering, and a line of seven mounted gunmen. Its dramatic scale makes particularly effective use of the elongated STB tatekan format.

Film background

Directed by George McCowan, The Magnificent Seven Ride! returns to the series’ central theme of a small group of gunfighters defending vulnerable people against overwhelming odds.

Lee Van Cleef plays Chris Adams, a former gunfighter now serving as a marshal. After violence shatters his settled life, his pursuit of the men responsible draws him into the defence of a Mexican community threatened by bandits.

To meet the danger, Adams assembles an unconventional force that includes a writer and five prisoners. Their uneasy alliance brings together men whose survival depends upon cooperation, despite their conflicting loyalties and troubled histories.

The supporting cast includes Stefanie Powers, Michael Callan, Luke Askew, and Mariette Hartley.

Van Cleef’s commanding presence connects the film with the harder-edged Westerns that had helped define his international reputation. The production continues a series whose original 1960 film adapted the central premise of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai for an American Western setting.

Poster design

The design is dominated by an expansive deep-blue sky crossed by sweeping white clouds. The sky occupies almost the entire height of the poster, providing a dramatic backdrop for the enormous Japanese title.

The principal lettering:

「荒野の七人」

runs vertically through the centre in vivid red. Its sharply cut, irregular strokes give the title a forceful, almost brush-painted character.

Along the left side, the subtitle:

「真昼の決闘」

appears in large olive-gold lettering, meaning “Showdown at High Noon.”

At the upper right, bright orange text announces:

「最新作第4部」

“The latest film: Part Four.”

This prominent wording identifies the poster’s place within the franchise and was designed to draw returning audiences to its newest adventure.

Further orange promotional copy reads:

「強烈にパワー・アップして あの七人が帰って来た！」

“More powerful than ever—the seven are back!”

Across the base, seven gunmen ride abreast towards the viewer, their horses raising dust against a dry Western landscape. Cacti and distant rock formations establish the frontier setting, while the relatively small scale of the riders emphasises the vast sky above them.

The English title, “THE MAGNIFICENT 7 RIDE!”, appears along the bottom, accompanied by United Artists branding. A narrow column of Japanese cast and production credits runs down the left edge.

The combination of red calligraphy, orange promotional lettering, blue sky, and mounted figures creates a striking example of Japanese Western-film advertising.

Release and format note

This is an original Japanese STB tatekan poster, comprising two printed sections arranged vertically to create a display measuring approximately:

51 × 145 cm / 20 × 57 inches

The horizontal junction between the sections is visible. This tall format gives the oversized title and open landscape a scale and presence quite different from a standard B2 poster.

It is an appealing piece for collectors of Lee Van Cleef, The Magnificent Seven series, Western cinema, and large-format Japanese theatrical advertising.

Condition

Very good condition.

There is an isolated area of paper loss along the right-hand edge, with associated tears and creasing, clearly shown in the close-up photograph. Other visible signs of age and use include horizontal folds, small splits and punctures, surface wear, and handling creases. The reverse shows marks, a handwritten notation, and small tape repairs.

The poster retains strong colour and considerable visual impact, particularly in its large red title and expansive sky.

We have taken the condition into account when pricing. Once framed, this poster will display very well.

Reference: S38.

Please review all photographs, including the reverse and close-up images of the damage, as they show the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese theatrical poster from the film’s 1972 release campaign.

It is now over 50 years old.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.