{"product_id":"west-side-story-ウエスト-サイド物語-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1961-very-rare-b2-size-c-51-5-72-8-cm-p120-copy","title":"“West Side Story” (ウエスト・サイド物語), Original Japanese Re-Release Movie Poster 1969, STB Tatekan Size (c. 51 × 145 cm) T287","description":"\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA spectacular \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal 1969 Japanese re-release STB tatekan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the landmark musical directed by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRobert Wise and Jerome Robbins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, starring \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNatalie Wood, Richard Beymer, George Chakiris, Rita Moreno, and Russ Tamblyn\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted in the scarce \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003etall, two-sheet STB \/ tatekan format\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this design combines the romance of Tony and Maria’s fire-escape scene with a panoramic New York skyline, a lively procession of dancers, and an enormous blue panel dominated by the film’s celebrated title logo. The oversized red Japanese lettering and dramatic leaping figures give the composition exceptional presence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn especially attractive Japanese design for one of cinema’s greatest musicals, offered in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eexcellent condition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e with strong colour and impressive display appeal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate \u0026amp; Japanese Theatrical Release\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was released in the United States in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1961\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and first opened in Japan on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e23 December 1961\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, distributed by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnited Artists\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis poster was produced for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1969 Japanese theatrical re-release\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, promoting the film’s spectacular \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e70mm presentation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. By this time, its songs, choreography, and romantic imagery were already internationally familiar, allowing the campaign to present the film as an established classic returning to the big screen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSTB \/ tatekan format measures approximately 51 × 145 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, creating a display nearly five feet high. This example is now \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e57 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Film, Its Reception \u0026amp; Its Legacy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdapted from the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1957 Broadway musical\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e brings the tragedy of Shakespeare’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRomeo and Juliet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e into the streets of New York. The romance between \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTony and Maria\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e unfolds amid the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, where prejudice, territorial conflict, and loyalty place increasingly destructive pressures on the young lovers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe film was directed by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRobert Wise and Jerome Robbins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with a screenplay by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eErnest Lehman\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Its theatrical foundations brought together an extraordinary creative team: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeonard Bernstein’s music, Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, Arthur Laurents’s book, and Robbins’s conception and choreography\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSongs including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Maria,” “Tonight,” “America,” and “Somewhere”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e became enduring standards. Just as important is the way dance carries the drama: movement expresses attraction, aggression, belonging, and fear, turning streets, rooftops, and playgrounds into spaces of heightened emotion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe principal cast combines \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNatalie Wood as Maria\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRichard Beymer as Tony\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeorge Chakiris as Bernardo, Rita Moreno as Anita, and Russ Tamblyn as Riff\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Chakiris and Moreno both received Academy Awards for their supporting performances.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA major critical and commercial success, the film won \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eten Oscars from eleven nominations\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBest Picture and Directing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, establishing the record for the most Academy Award wins by a musical film. Its achievements in choreography, colour, editing, and widescreen composition helped define what a stage musical could become on film.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSelected for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnited States National Film Registry in 1997\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e remains a central work in the history of the screen musical, admired for its combination of romantic intimacy, social tension, and extraordinary physical energy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesign Notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe New York skyline:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The upper section is filled with a dramatic monochrome city panorama, including the recognisable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmpire State Building and Chrysler Building\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Its dense architecture establishes the urban setting and gives the coloured figures a striking background.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTony and Maria on the fire escape:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A narrow vertical photographic panel places Maria above Tony, recreating the balcony imagery at the heart of their romance. Maria’s yellow dress stands out against the dark metalwork, while Tony’s upward movement draws the eye through the composition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA horizontal procession of dancers:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Across the middle, a band of colourful figures introduces the film’s exuberant choreography. This strip connects the romantic upper section with the expansive dance imagery below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMonumental Japanese lettering:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The red title \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eウエスト・サイド物語\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e stretches across the blue lower panel. Its scale and sharp colour contrast give the poster immediate impact, even when viewed from a distance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe classic fire-escape logo:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The white \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWEST SIDE STORY\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e lettering incorporates a fire escape and small dancing figures. This celebrated graphic identity originated with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoe Caroff\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and is integrated here into a distinctly Japanese photographic layout. A smaller orange version appears at the upper left.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeaping figures at dramatic scale:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Three male dancers dominate the lower section, their outstretched arms and raised legs extending across the blue field and into the surrounding pale border. Their arrangement captures the athleticism and precision that make the film’s choreography so memorable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eContrasting colour and texture:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The blue panel, scarlet Japanese title, green promotional copy, pink accent, and warm costume colours create a rich composition, balanced by the monochrome cityscape and generous pale margins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e70mm, United Artists, and the Japanese Re-Release Pitch\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe large \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e70mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e announcement promotes the film as a major theatrical experience. The accompanying Japanese text also highlights \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnicolor and six-track stereophonic sound\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, emphasising the visual scale and musical impact of the presentation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe green copy at upper right celebrates a musical whose excitement spread from New York around the world, describing it as a production everyone knows and audiences have embraced. Its tone is particularly appropriate to a revival campaign: this is an invitation to experience a familiar favourite again on a grand scale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the foot of the poster, an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOscar statuette\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, awards-related lettering, and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnited Artists\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e branding reinforce the film’s prestige.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe period advertisement refers to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eeleven Academy Awards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This appears to count the film’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eten competitive wins together with Jerome Robbins’s additional honorary award for his achievements in film choreography\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout STB \/ Tatekan Posters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapanese \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSTB \/ tatekan posters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e were elongated advertisements intended for prominent display around cinema entrances and other tall, narrow spaces. They were commonly printed in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003etwo sections arranged vertically\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to create one continuous composition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir large size and practical use made them vulnerable to folding, handling damage, separation, and disposal after exhibition. Surviving examples retaining both sections are particularly appealing to collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere, the format serves the design exceptionally well. The skyline and elevated balcony scene establish height in the upper section, while the dancers fill the lower panel with movement. It is a composition that makes full use of the distinctive proportions of a Japanese tatekan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition Report\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall condition: Excellent, with light signs of age, handling, and previous folding.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eColour and presentation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eblue background, red Japanese title, green copy, and photographic colours\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e remain strong and attractive. The skyline, central logo, and principal figures retain clear detail and excellent visual impact.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall, this is a beautifully preserved example with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eexcellent display presence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Once framed, its combination of New York imagery, bold typography, and expansive dance photography should present exceptionally well.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease review the supplied photographs carefully—front and reverse—as they show the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eexact poster offered\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese theatrical re-release STB tatekan poster from 1969\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enot a reproduction or a reprint\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Certificate of Authenticity is included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57483328455034,"sku":null,"price":378.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/man-standing-in-front-of-gallery-wall_55.jpg?v=1793231061","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-very-rare-b2-size-c-51-5-72-8-cm-p120-copy","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}