“The Silent Flute” / 「サイレント・フルート」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1979, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) F288

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the Japanese release of The Silent Flute / 「サイレント・フルート」, Richard Moore’s surreal 1978 martial arts fantasy, released theatrically in Japan in 1979.

Also known internationally as Circle of Iron, the film originated from a story conceived by Bruce Lee, James Coburn, and Stirling Silliphant. This extraordinary Japanese poster features original hand-painted artwork by Seito, created specifically for the film’s Japanese campaign.

Film background

The film follows Cord, a proud and highly skilled martial artist who sets out to find the mysterious wizard Zetan and obtain a legendary book said to contain the ultimate truth of the universe.

His journey leads through strange and dreamlike landscapes, where he encounters a succession of warriors, philosophers, temptations, and physical trials. Each encounter is designed not merely to test his fighting ability, but to challenge his ego, certainty, and understanding of strength.

Directed by Richard Moore, the film was developed from an original story by Bruce Lee, James Coburn, and Stirling Silliphant. The screenplay was written by Stirling Silliphant and Stanley Mann.

The cast includes David Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Erica Creer, Roddy McDowall, Eli Wallach, and Christopher Lee.

The project was initially conceived during the late 1960s as a vehicle through which Bruce Lee could introduce elements of Zen philosophy and Eastern spiritual thought to Western audiences. Following Lee’s death, the film was eventually produced with David Carradine performing several different symbolic roles originally intended for Lee.

The Silent Flute has since developed a devoted cult following for its unusual combination of martial arts, philosophical allegory, surreal fantasy, and late-1970s pulp aesthetics.

Poster design

The poster uses a dense, highly imaginative hand-painted fantasy montage filled with characters, symbolic objects, fire, architecture, and exotic landscapes.

At the upper centre is an enormous veiled face with piercing blue-grey eyes. The figure wears an elaborate white headdress decorated with a red jewel and a large green crescent-shaped ornament, creating a mysterious and almost mythological presence.

At upper left, a warrior charges through flames on horseback, holding a curved blade. Beneath him, another figure appears in motion amid the fire, reinforcing the poster’s sense of danger and supernatural adventure.

A monumental staircase or pyramid structure rises through the centre of the composition. Around it appear the various figures and trials encountered during Cord’s quest, including robed elders, fighters, strange creatures, and ceremonial characters.

At right, a dancer in a pink veil performs beside an ornate vessel, while the lower centre shows several of the film’s more eccentric characters gathered around the protagonist.

In the lower-right foreground, a seated warrior calmly plays a wooden flute. This meditative image creates a powerful contrast with the violence, flames, and visual complexity surrounding him.

The white text at lower left reads:

「そこへ行けば夢がある
音なき笛に誘われて
ジータンまで、あと1万里…」

“Go there and there is a dream. Drawn onward by the silent flute, only ten thousand ri remain until Zetan…”

The lower portion is anchored by the enormous Japanese title:

「サイレント・フルート」

rendered in bold red lettering against a deep black banner.

Above the title are the principal cast and production credits, including prominent reference to Bruce Lee and James Coburn as creators of the original story.

Artist note

The artwork is signed:

“SEITO”

in pale blue near the seated flute player at lower right.

Seito was a distinctive Japanese illustrator active during the 1970s and 1980s, known for elaborate painted movie-poster compositions combining dramatic portraiture, action, fantasy, and densely layered narrative imagery.

This design was created specifically for the Japanese theatrical campaign and differs significantly from the film’s Western advertising. Its vivid colouring, extraordinary character montage, and hand-painted detail make it a particularly striking example of Japanese international cinema poster art from the period.

Release note

The Silent Flute was originally produced in 1978 and released theatrically in Japan in 1979 through Nippon Herald Films.

This poster was printed for the film’s original Japanese theatrical release.

It is a standard Japanese B2-size theatrical poster, measuring approximately:

51.5 × 72.8 cm / 20 × 28.7 inches

It is an original period Japanese cinema poster, not a later reproduction or commercial reprint.

Condition

Excellent condition. A highly attractive example, with rich colour, exceptional hand-painted detail, clear 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, but overall it presents extremely well.

Reference: F288.

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

This is an original 1979 Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is now over 45 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.