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Leon / B2 / Japan

11.03.13

Poster Poster
Title
Leon
AKA
Léon (France - original title) | The Professional (USA)
Year of Film
1994
Director
Luc Besson
Starring
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Willi One Blood, Don Creech
Origin of Film
France
Genre(s) of Film
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Willi One Blood, Don Creech,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1995
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
20 6/16" x 28 13/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

Unique artwork on this poster for the Japanese release of French director Luc Besson‘s classic ‘hitman with a heart’ film, Leon (AKA The Professional in the US). The film reunited Besson with his  regular collaborator Jean Reno (he was one of the leads in Besson’s The Big Blue, amongst other roles), who’s superb as the titular assassin wrestling with his strict code of ethics after he witnesses the massacre of a family that leaves one survivor, a twelve-year-old girl called Mathilda (Natalie Portman in a breakout role). The perpetrator is the psychotic, corrupt policeman Stansfield, played brilliantly by Gary Oldman, and Leon decides to take Mathilda under his wing to protect her, but Mathilda wants revenge and Stansfield will stop at nothing to track down the witness to his heinous crime.

This Japanese B2 actually features a still from the director’s cut of the film. Japan was one of the only countries in the world (including France) to see a theatrical release of the so-called ‘Version Integrale’, or International cut, of the film that adds 26 minutes of extra footage – the poster for that release can be seen here. I also have the UK quad and the American one sheet.

My New Partner / B1 / Poland

07.03.16

Poster Poster
Title
My New Partner
AKA
Les ripoux (France - original title) | Skorumpowani (Poland) | Le Cop (UK)
Year of Film
1984
Director
Claude Zidi
Starring
Philippe Noiret, Thierry Lhermitte, Régine, Grace De Capitani, Claude Brosset, Albert Simono, Julien Guiomar, Henri Attal
Origin of Film
France
Genre(s) of Film
Philippe Noiret, Thierry Lhermitte, Régine, Grace De Capitani, Claude Brosset, Albert Simono, Julien Guiomar, Henri Attal,
Type of Poster
B1
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
Poland
Year of Poster
1986
Designer
Wieslaw Walkuski
Artist
Wieslaw Walkuski
Size (inches)
26 3/16" x 37 14/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

Striking and colourful artwork on this Polish B1 poster for the release of the 1984 French comedy film My New Partner that was originally released as Les Ripoux, which translates as ‘the corrupt ones’. The film stars two of France’s most popular and prolific actors, the late Philippe Noiret (best known for his role as the projectionist in Cinema Paradiso) and Thierry Lhermitte who starred in a number of popular comedies during the 1970s and 1980s. 

Noiret plays René, a corrupt Parisian beat cop who regularly dispenses street justice and happily takes bribes from minor criminals to let them carry on, instead of arresting them. When his long-term partner retires he is put together with Francois (Lhermitte), an idealistic young rookie who’s just graduated from training. René must work hard to convince Francois that his way of doing things is the right way, including using a sultry prostitute friend to seduce the innocent cop. The film was enough of a success to spawn two sequels (of lesser quality) over the following years.

The artwork on the poster is by Wieslaw Walkuski who was born in 1956 and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Since 1981 Walkuski has worked as a graphic designer and artist for publishing houses and theaters, as well as for the Polish film organisations Polfilm and Film Polski. He’s worked freelance since 1987 and has painted over 200 film posters. He continues to live and work in Warsaw. Walkuski’s official website features galleries of many of his designs and images of his other work.

He’s responsible for some incredible designs and two of my favourites include those he painted for Lars Von Trier’s Breaking the Waves and the Dustin Hoffman comedy Tootsie.

The Day Of The Jackal / B2 / target style / Japan

09.09.15

Poster Poster

A striking design on this Japanese B2 for the release of the 1974 thriller The Day of the Jackal, which was based on the 1971 novel of the same name by the English author Frederick Forsyth. The story is set in 1962 and focuses on a fictional assassination attempt on France’s then president Charles de Gaulle who had angered many in his own country by deciding to grant independence to the French colony of Algeria. An underground resistance group called the OAS had formed to fight this decision and both the novel and the film start with a real incident in which de Gaulle’s car had been sprayed with machine gun fire, but he had miraculously survived unscathed. In the film the OAS decide to cut their losses and hire a professional assassin. They settle on an Englishman (played by Edward Foxwho decides on the call sign ‘Jackal’.

The film follows The Jackal as he prepares for the assassination by traveling all over Europe to procure identity documents, a special weapon, and other items necessary for the task. The French authorities become aware that someone has been hired for the job and appoint ‘France’s best detective, Lebel (Michael Lonsdale, best known for his role as the villain in Moonraker), to lead the hunt for him. Lebel calls in favours from all over Europe in the hunt and eventually they strike it lucky with enquiries by Scotland Yard in the UK. The film ratchets up the tension as the French authorities close in on The Jackal, but he manages to evade them long enough to line de Gaulle up in his sights. 

The film is almost two and a half hours long but maintains a brisk pace and is certainly thrilling throughout. It makes brilliant use of real locations and the Wikipedia page for the film points out some of the places the production visited. The film was very well critically acclaimed but failed to perform as spectacularly at the box-office as some had hoped, something later blamed on the fact that the lead was the then unknown Fox.

This is one of two styles of Japanese posters for the film and I also have the ‘face’ style, which can be seen here.

Army of Shadows / B2 / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Army of Shadows
AKA
L'armée des ombres (France - original title)
Year of Film
1969
Director
Jean-Pierre Melville
Starring
Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Simone Signoret, Claude Mann, Paul Crauchet, Christian Barbier, Serge Reggiani, André Dewavrin, Alain Dekok
Origin of Film
France | Italy
Genre(s) of Film
Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Simone Signoret, Claude Mann, Paul Crauchet, Christian Barbier, Serge Reggiani, André Dewavrin, Alain Dekok,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1970
Designer
Unknown
Artist
Unknown
Size (inches)
20 5/16" x 29 1/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

Breathless / quad / 2010 re-release / UK

18.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Breathless
AKA
À bout de souffle (France - original title) | Fino all'ultimo respiro [At the end of the final breath] (Italy)
Year of Film
1960
Director
Jean-Luc Godard
Starring
Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Daniel Boulanger, Jean-Pierre Melville, Henri-Jacques Huet, Van Doude, Claude Mansard, Jean-Luc Godard, Richard Balducci, Roger Hanin, Jean-Louis Richard
Origin of Film
France
Genre(s) of Film
Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Daniel Boulanger, Jean-Pierre Melville, Henri-Jacques Huet, Van Doude, Claude Mansard, Jean-Luc Godard, Richard Balducci, Roger Hanin, Jean-Louis Richard,
Type of Poster
Quad
Style of Poster
Anniversary re-release
Origin of Poster
UK
Year of Poster
2010
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
30 1/16" x 40"
SS or DS
DS
Tagline
--

Cold Sweat / B2 / target style / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Cold Sweat
AKA
De la part des copains (France - original title)
Year of Film
1970
Director
Terence Young
Starring
Charles Bronson, Liv Ullmann, James Mason, Jill Ireland, Michel Constantin, Luigi Pistilli
Origin of Film
Italy | France | Belgium
Genre(s) of Film
Charles Bronson, Liv Ullmann, James Mason, Jill Ireland, Michel Constantin, Luigi Pistilli,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
Target
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1971
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
20 2/16" x 28 12/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

Cold Sweat / B2 / close up Bronson style / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Cold Sweat
AKA
De la part des copains (France - original title)
Year of Film
1970
Director
Terence Young
Starring
Charles Bronson, Liv Ullmann, James Mason, Jill Ireland, Michel Constantin, Luigi Pistilli
Origin of Film
Italy | France | Belgium
Genre(s) of Film
Charles Bronson, Liv Ullmann, James Mason, Jill Ireland, Michel Constantin, Luigi Pistilli,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
Close up Bronson style
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1971
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
20 7/16" x 28 15/16"
SS or DS
SS
NSS #
--
Tagline
--

Cold Sweat / B2 / machine gun style / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Cold Sweat
AKA
De la part des copains (France - original title)
Year of Film
1970
Director
Terence Young
Starring
Charles Bronson, Liv Ullmann, James Mason, Jill Ireland, Michel Constantin, Luigi Pistilli
Origin of Film
Italy | France | Belgium
Genre(s) of Film
Charles Bronson, Liv Ullmann, James Mason, Jill Ireland, Michel Constantin, Luigi Pistilli,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
Machine gun style
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1971
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
20 4/16" x 28 12/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

Fat Girl / one sheet / USA

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Fat Girl
AKA
À ma soeur! (France - original title)
Year of Film
2001
Director
Catherine Breillat
Starring
Anaïs Reboux, Roxane Mesquida, Libero De Rienzo, Arsinée Khanjian, Romain Goupil, Laura Betti, Albert Goldberg
Origin of Film
France | Italy
Genre(s) of Film
Anaïs Reboux, Roxane Mesquida, Libero De Rienzo, Arsinée Khanjian, Romain Goupil, Laura Betti, Albert Goldberg,
Type of Poster
One sheet
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
USA
Year of Poster
2001
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
26 12/16" x 38 12/16"
SS or DS
SS
NSS #
--
Tagline
--

Hate / one sheet / USA

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Hate
AKA
La Haine (France - original title)
Year of Film
1995
Director
Mathieu Kassovitz
Starring
Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Saïd Taghmaoui, Abdel Ahmed Ghili, Solo, Joseph Momo, Héloïse Rauth
Origin of Film
France
Genre(s) of Film
Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Saïd Taghmaoui, Abdel Ahmed Ghili, Solo, Joseph Momo, Héloïse Rauth,
Type of Poster
One sheet
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
USA
Year of Poster
1996
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
27" x 40"
SS or DS
DS
NSS #
960049
Tagline
How fall you far doesn't matter, it's how you land.

Le Gang / B2 / montage style / Japan

30.06.16

Poster Poster
Title
Le Gang
AKA
The Gang (USA - video title)
Year of Film
1977
Director
Jacques Deray
Starring
Alain Delon, Xavier Depraz, Roland Bertin, Adalberto Maria Merli, Maurice Barrier, Raymond Bussières, Giampiero Albertini, Laura Betti, Nicole Calfan
Origin of Film
Italy | France
Genre(s) of Film
Alain Delon, Xavier Depraz, Roland Bertin, Adalberto Maria Merli, Maurice Barrier, Raymond Bussières, Giampiero Albertini, Laura Betti, Nicole Calfan,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
Montage style
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1977
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
20 5/16" x 28 14/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

This is one of two Japanese B2 posters (that I’m aware of) for the release of the 1977 crime drama Le Gang. The film was an Italian-French co-production and was directed by Jacques Deray, a Frenchman who helmed a number of crime thrillers during his career. French superstar Alain Delon, who collaborated with Deray on a number of similar films, plays the leader of the titular gang of criminals. The story is set in France during the 1940s and the plot, apparently based on true events, is described thusly on IMDb:

In 1945, as World War Two comes to a close, five small time crooks unite to form a gang. After several bold robberies they become notorious as “the front-wheel drive gang”. The police attempt to stop their crime spree with little success, but how long will their luck last?

The other style B2 can be seen on emovieposter.com here.

Leon / quad / UK

18.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Leon
AKA
Léon (France - original title) | The Professional (USA)
Year of Film
1994
Director
Luc Besson
Starring
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Willi One Blood, Don Creech
Origin of Film
France
Genre(s) of Film
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Willi One Blood, Don Creech,
Type of Poster
Quad
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
UK
Year of Poster
1995
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
30" x 39 7/8"
SS or DS
DS
Tagline
He moves without sound. Kills without emotion. Disappears without trace.

Leon / B2 / integral version / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Leon
AKA
Léon (France - original title) | The Professional (USA)
Year of Film
1994
Director
Luc Besson
Starring
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Willi One Blood, Don Creech
Origin of Film
France
Genre(s) of Film
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Willi One Blood, Don Creech,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
Integral version
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1996
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
20 6/16" x 28 13/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

La Femme Nikita / one sheet / USA

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
La Femme Nikita
AKA
Nikita (France / Japan)
Year of Film
1990
Director
Luc Besson
Starring
Anne Parillaud, Laura Chéron, Tchéky Karyo, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno
Origin of Film
France | Italy
Genre(s) of Film
Anne Parillaud, Laura Chéron, Tchéky Karyo, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno,
Type of Poster
One sheet
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
USA
Year of Poster
1991
Designer
Unknown
Artist
Photograph by Lisa Powers
Size (inches)
27" x 39 11/16"
SS or DS
SS
NSS #
--
Tagline
The Hit of Paris and London Has Come to America.

Nikita / quad / UK

18.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
La Femme Nikita
AKA
Nikita (France / Japan)
Year of Film
1990
Director
Luc Besson
Starring
Anne Parillaud, Laura Chéron, Tchéky Karyo, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno
Origin of Film
France | Italy
Genre(s) of Film
Anne Parillaud, Laura Chéron, Tchéky Karyo, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno,
Type of Poster
Quad
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
UK
Year of Poster
1990
Designer
Idest
Artist
Photography by Lisa Powers
Size (inches)
30" x 39 7/8"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

Nikita / B2 / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
La Femme Nikita
AKA
Nikita (France / Japan)
Year of Film
1990
Director
Luc Besson
Starring
Anne Parillaud, Laura Chéron, Tchéky Karyo, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno
Origin of Film
France | Italy
Genre(s) of Film
Anne Parillaud, Laura Chéron, Tchéky Karyo, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1991
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
20 6/16" x 28 14/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

Rider on the Rain / B2 / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
Rider on the Rain
AKA
Le passager de la pluie (France - original title)
Year of Film
1970
Director
René Clément
Starring
Marlène Jobert, Charles Bronson, Annie Cordy, Jill Ireland, Ellen Bahl
Origin of Film
Italy | France
Genre(s) of Film
Marlène Jobert, Charles Bronson, Annie Cordy, Jill Ireland, Ellen Bahl,
Type of Poster
B2
Style of Poster
White style
Origin of Poster
Japan
Year of Poster
1970
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
20 2/16" x 28 11/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

Stuntman / B2 / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster

Red Sun / 30×40 / USA

16.04.12

Poster Poster
Title
Red Sun
AKA
Soleil rouge (France - original title)
Year of Film
1971
Director
Terence Young
Starring
Charles Bronson, Ursula Andress, Toshirô Mifune, Alain Delon, Capucine, Barta Barri, Guido Lollobrigida, Anthony Dawson
Origin of Film
France | Italy | Spain
Genre(s) of Film
Charles Bronson, Ursula Andress, Toshirô Mifune, Alain Delon, Capucine, Barta Barri, Guido Lollobrigida, Anthony Dawson,
Type of Poster
30x40
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
USA
Year of Poster
1972
Designer
Unknown
Artist
Unknown
Size (inches)
30" x 40"
SS or DS
SS
NSS #
72/190
Tagline
The greatest fighting machine the West has ever known | The first East-meets-West Western!

A truly international production, Red Sun was filmed in Spain by the British director Terence Young and starring American action legend Charles Bronson,the Japanese actor Toshirô Mifune (best known for Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai), French superstar Alain Delon and the gorgeous Swiss actress Ursula Andress. Terence Young had previously seen great success directing Sean Connery in three of his outings as James Bond.

The film sees two ruthless robbers, Link (Bronson) and Gauche (Delon) who attack a train bound for Washington carrying the Japanese ambassador. During the raid Gauche steals a very valuable sword and then betrays Link, trying to kill him before escaping with the loot. Link must team up with the only surviving Samurai escort of the ambassador (Mifune) and track down Gauche before it’s too late.

Bronson had previously starred in The Magnificent Seven, an American remake of Seven Samurai. The main figures on this poster appear to be photographic and I’m uncertain who is responsible for the artwork above them.

The 400 Blows / quad / BFI 2009 re-release / UK

18.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
The 400 Blows
AKA
Les quatre cents coups (France - original title)
Year of Film
1959
Director
François Truffaut
Starring
Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Rémy, Guy Decomble, Georges Flamant, Patrick Auffay, Daniel Couturier
Origin of Film
France
Genre(s) of Film
Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Rémy, Guy Decomble, Georges Flamant, Patrick Auffay, Daniel Couturier,
Type of Poster
Quad
Style of Poster
BFI re-release
Origin of Poster
UK
Year of Poster
2009
Designer
Unknown
Artist
--
Size (inches)
29 11/16" x 39 11/16"
SS or DS
SS
Tagline
--

The City Of Lost Children / one sheet / final / USA

17.05.11

Poster Poster

The City of Lost Children / quad / UK

18.05.11

Poster Poster

The Girl on the Bridge / B2 / Japan

17.05.11

Poster Poster

The Night Caller / one sheet / teaser / USA

17.05.11

Poster Poster

The Professional / one sheet / USA

17.05.11

Poster Poster
Title
The Professional
AKA
Léon (France - original title)
Year of Film
1994
Director
Luc Besson
Starring
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Willi One Blood, Don Creech
Origin of Film
France
Genre(s) of Film
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Willi One Blood, Don Creech,
Type of Poster
One sheet
Style of Poster
--
Origin of Poster
USA
Year of Poster
1994
Designer
Pulse Advertising
Artist
--
Size (inches)
26 6/8" x 39 11/16"
SS or DS
SS
NSS #
--
Tagline
A perfect assassin. An innocent girl. They have nothing left to lose except each other.