1960s

In one of his most famous roles at the pinnacle of his career, Steve McQueen is the essence of cool as tough cop Frank Bullitt in this action-packed 1968 thriller, featuring one of movie history's most memorable and influential car chases through the streets of San Francisco. Issued for the film's original theatrical release in Japan, this incredibly rare B0 subway poster is notable for featuring Bullitt's 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390. At around twice the size of the more commonly seen Japanese B2 poster, McQueen's steely stare looms large on the oversized B0 format, which measures in at over 5ft tall. With space at a premium in Japan, very few large format movie posters were printed and even fewer have survived, with preference placed on the smaller format B2 posters or chirashi handbills.

Condition

Very Good (B)

Conservation backed on linen. Backing has smoothed and diminished one vertical and three horizontal manual folds, creasing across vertical fold and an approximately 1¼in. margin fold all around where the edges were folded back at one time, either for original theatrical display or for subsequent collector framing. Light colour touching to folds. Nicks, creases and tears to edges - the largest 2½in. to left edge. A 1½in. chip to lower right corner. Numerous pinholes to edges, extending into image at right edge. Torn pinhole to right of Eirin mark. A few light creases through image and tiny surface ding to McQueen's jacket. Some light surface soiling to edges and creases. Colours excellent.