“Wait Until Dark” (暗くなるまで待って), c. 1968 Japanese STB Tatekan Poster, STB Size (c. 51 × 145 cm) ZA682

This is an original Japanese STB tatekan (two‑panel standing) poster printed circa 1968 for the Japanese theatrical release of Wait Until Dark (暗くなるまで待って), the classic suspense thriller directed by Terence Young.

Film background

Starring Audrey Hepburn alongside Alan Arkin and Richard Crenna, Wait Until Dark adapts Frederick Knott’s celebrated stage play into a tightly constructed, high‑tension home‑invasion thriller. The premise—an isolated apartment, a vulnerable heroine, and criminals closing in—became a benchmark for modern suspense staging, and the film remains one of the most beloved “single‑location” thrillers of its era, with Hepburn’s performance widely regarded as one of her most intense and dramatic.

Poster design

A masterclass in minimalist suspense, the STB uses bold negative space and a single, fear‑lit image to build dread. The upper panel features the film’s heroine holding a match against a near‑black field, the flame creating a tiny island of light and danger. The central band slams in with the jagged, blood‑red Japanese title 「暗くなるまで待って」, with the English WAIT UNTIL DARK beneath—simple, direct, and unnerving. The lower panel adds a second still: the heroine trapped in a doorway moment as the threat closes in, anchoring the poster’s promise of claustrophobic, room‑by‑room tension. It’s a striking, graphic piece that frames beautifully.

Rarity and condition

Japanese STB tatekan posters were printed for theatre display in modest quantities and were often subjected to heavy use, making clean survivors increasingly scarce.

This example is in excellent condition for its age, with strong colour, crisp blacks and only very light handling wear visible. Please inspect the photos carefully for a detailed view of condition.

It is over 57 years old.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.