{"product_id":"west-side-story-ウエスト-サイド物語-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1961-ultra-rare-b1-size-72-8-103-cm-horizontal-yoko-format-q113","title":"“West Side Story” (ウエスト・サイド物語), Original First Release Japanese Movie Poster 1961, Style B, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) Q113","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"122\" data-end=\"568\"\u003eThis is an original Japanese \u003cstrong data-start=\"151\" data-end=\"175\"\u003eB2 theatrical poster\u003c\/strong\u003e printed in \u003cstrong data-start=\"187\" data-end=\"195\"\u003e1961\u003c\/strong\u003e for the film’s \u003cstrong data-start=\"211\" data-end=\"237\"\u003efirst Japanese release\u003c\/strong\u003e of \u003cstrong data-start=\"241\" data-end=\"260\"\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/strong\u003e, the landmark screen adaptation of the Broadway musical directed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"329\" data-end=\"344\"\u003eRobert Wise\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"349\" data-end=\"367\"\u003eJerome Robbins\u003c\/strong\u003e, and starring \u003cstrong data-start=\"382\" data-end=\"442\"\u003eNatalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno,\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"447\" data-end=\"466\"\u003eGeorge Chakiris\u003c\/strong\u003e. In Japan, the film was first released on \u003cstrong data-start=\"509\" data-end=\"529\"\u003e23 December 1961\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"570\" data-end=\"954\"\u003eThis is the \u003cstrong data-start=\"582\" data-end=\"620\"\u003erarer first-release Style B design\u003c\/strong\u003e, a striking and highly desirable country-of-origin variant from the film’s original Japanese campaign. Japanese first-release paper for \u003cstrong data-start=\"757\" data-end=\"776\"\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/strong\u003e is scarce in any form, and alternate first-release designs such as this are especially sought after by collectors of classic Hollywood musicals and original Japanese poster art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"956\" data-end=\"975\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"956\" data-end=\"975\"\u003eFilm background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"977\" data-end=\"1509\"\u003eReleased in the United States in \u003cstrong data-start=\"1010\" data-end=\"1018\"\u003e1961\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong data-start=\"1020\" data-end=\"1039\"\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/strong\u003e reimagined \u003cstrong data-start=\"1051\" data-end=\"1071\"\u003eRomeo and Juliet\u003c\/strong\u003e in contemporary New York, transforming Shakespearean tragedy into one of the great screen musicals of the twentieth century. The film became one of the most celebrated productions of its era and won \u003cstrong data-start=\"1271\" data-end=\"1292\"\u003e10 Academy Awards\u003c\/strong\u003e, including \u003cstrong data-start=\"1304\" data-end=\"1320\"\u003eBest Picture\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"1325\" data-end=\"1342\"\u003eBest Director\u003c\/strong\u003e, while its songs — including \u003cstrong data-start=\"1372\" data-end=\"1406\"\u003e“Maria,” “America,” “Tonight,”\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"1411\" data-end=\"1426\"\u003e“Somewhere”\u003c\/strong\u003e — helped secure its place in cinema history. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1511\" data-end=\"1956\"\u003eFor collectors, the film remains a cornerstone title: a work that sits at the intersection of classic Hollywood, musical cinema, choreography, and postwar urban myth. Original Japanese posters from the first release are especially appealing because they capture the moment when the film first reached Japanese audiences as a major international cultural event, rather than as an already established classic. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1958\" data-end=\"1975\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1958\" data-end=\"1975\"\u003ePoster design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1977\" data-end=\"2536\"\u003eThis is a \u003cstrong data-start=\"1987\" data-end=\"2016\"\u003esuperb and highly graphic\u003c\/strong\u003e Japanese design. The composition is built around a collage-like cityscape of tenement façades and fire escapes, immediately rooting the image in the Manhattan setting of the film. Across the lower half are energetic dance tableaux and central confrontation scenes from the musical, while the lower-left inset with \u003cstrong data-start=\"2331\" data-end=\"2349\"\u003eTony and Maria\u003c\/strong\u003e adds a note of intimacy and tragedy. The bold Japanese title at the top has tremendous impact, and the whole image feels unmistakably of its time: modern, urban, and alive with movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2538\" data-end=\"2931\"\u003eWhat makes this \u003cstrong data-start=\"2554\" data-end=\"2565\"\u003eStyle B\u003c\/strong\u003e poster especially appealing is the balance it strikes between romance and kinetic ensemble energy. It does not rely on a single hero image; instead, it translates the film’s world of gangs, dance, architecture, and doomed love into a vivid and distinctly Japanese graphic statement. As a display piece, it is both elegant and visually busy in exactly the right way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2933\" data-end=\"2946\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2933\" data-end=\"2946\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2948\" data-end=\"3499\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2948\" data-end=\"3036\"\u003eVery Good to Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/strong\u003e The poster presents very strongly overall, with \u003cstrong data-start=\"3085\" data-end=\"3148\"\u003efresh colour, strong contrast, and excellent display appeal\u003c\/strong\u003e. It was previously folded and subsequently stored flat. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3501\" data-end=\"3529\"\u003eIt is \u003cstrong data-start=\"3507\" data-end=\"3528\"\u003eover 65 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3531\" data-end=\"3573\"\u003eIt is \u003cstrong data-start=\"3537\" data-end=\"3572\"\u003enot a reproduction or a reprint\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3575\" data-end=\"3616\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3575\" data-end=\"3616\"\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56877784105338,"sku":null,"price":925.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-05-11T221407.304.jpg?v=1778505296","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/west-side-story-%e3%82%a6%e3%82%a8%e3%82%b9%e3%83%88-%e3%82%b5%e3%82%a4%e3%83%89%e7%89%a9%e8%aa%9e-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1961-ultra-rare-b1-size-72-8-103-cm-horizontal-yoko-format-q113","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}