{"product_id":"the-silent-flute-サイレント-フルート-original-japanese-movie-poster-1979-b2-size-51-73-cm-f288-copy","title":"“The Silent Flute” \/ 「サイレント・フルート」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1979, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) T49","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 theatrical poster\u003c\/strong\u003e printed for the Japanese release of \u003cstrong\u003eThe Silent Flute \/ 「サイレント・フルート」\u003c\/strong\u003e, Richard Moore’s surreal 1978 martial arts fantasy, released theatrically in Japan in \u003cstrong\u003e1979\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso known internationally as \u003cstrong\u003eCircle of Iron\u003c\/strong\u003e, the film originated from a story conceived by \u003cstrong\u003eBruce Lee, James Coburn, and Stirling Silliphant\u003c\/strong\u003e. This extraordinary Japanese poster features \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal hand-painted artwork by Seito\u003c\/strong\u003e, created specifically for the film’s Japanese campaign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFilm background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe film follows \u003cstrong\u003eCord\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirected by \u003cstrong\u003eRichard Moore\u003c\/strong\u003e, the film was developed from an original story by \u003cstrong\u003eBruce Lee, James Coburn, and Stirling Silliphant\u003c\/strong\u003e. The screenplay was written by \u003cstrong\u003eStirling Silliphant and Stanley Mann\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cast includes \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Erica Creer, Roddy McDowall, Eli Wallach, and Christopher Lee\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe project was initially conceived during the late 1960s as a vehicle through which Bruce Lee could introduce elements of \u003cstrong\u003eZen philosophy and Eastern spiritual thought\u003c\/strong\u003e to Western audiences. Following Lee’s death, the film was eventually produced with David Carradine performing several different symbolic roles originally intended for Lee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Silent Flute has since developed a devoted cult following for its unusual combination of \u003cstrong\u003emartial arts, philosophical allegory, surreal fantasy, and late-1970s pulp aesthetics\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoster design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster uses a dense, highly imaginative \u003cstrong\u003ehand-painted fantasy montage\u003c\/strong\u003e filled with characters, symbolic objects, fire, architecture, and exotic landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe white text at lower left reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「そこへ行けば夢がある\u003cbr\u003e音なき笛に誘われて\u003cbr\u003eジータンまで、あと1万里…」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Go there and there is a dream. Drawn onward by the silent flute, only ten thousand ri remain until Zetan…”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lower portion is anchored by the enormous Japanese title:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「サイレント・フルート」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003erendered in bold red lettering against a deep black banner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbove the title are the principal cast and production credits, including prominent reference to \u003cstrong\u003eBruce Lee and James Coburn\u003c\/strong\u003e as creators of the original story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artwork is signed:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“SEITO”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ein pale blue near the seated flute player at lower right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeito 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Silent Flute was originally produced in \u003cstrong\u003e1978\u003c\/strong\u003e and released theatrically in Japan in \u003cstrong\u003e1979\u003c\/strong\u003e through \u003cstrong\u003eNippon Herald Films\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis poster was printed for the film’s \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese theatrical release\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a standard Japanese \u003cstrong\u003eB2-size theatrical poster\u003c\/strong\u003e, measuring approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e51.5 × 72.8 cm \/ 20 × 28.7 inches\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal period Japanese cinema poster\u003c\/strong\u003e, not a later reproduction or commercial reprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVery Good+ \/ Excellent condition.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal 1979 Japanese theatrical poster\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot a reproduction or a reprint\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is now \u003cstrong\u003eover 45 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57307286864250,"sku":null,"price":135.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-09-26T070749.564.jpg?v=1790374081","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/the-silent-flute-%e3%82%b5%e3%82%a4%e3%83%ac%e3%83%b3%e3%83%88-%e3%83%95%e3%83%ab%e3%83%bc%e3%83%88-original-japanese-movie-poster-1979-b2-size-51-73-cm-f288-copy","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}