Pale Rider: Rare Japanese Poster

Pale Rider Rare Japanese Poster

After posting a couple of beautiful Japanese posters for The Gauntlet yesterday, I was reminded of this excellent and rarely seen poster I have had on file. The poster needed some digital restoration, but I am pleased with the final result. The poster for Clint’s Pale Rider (1985) is in fact so rare, that details about it are just as hard to find. Because of its landscape format it is quite possibly a ‘Japanese transit poster’, also known as the Japanese Nakazuri size (B3) approx 14.0" X 20.0"). These transit posters were designed and displayed on various forms of transport such as trains, subways and buses. The artwork again differs considerably from the more regular designs, which featured either the painting of Clint drawing his gun or the close-up facial design, both of which were set against a golden sun baked background. This one is more of a profile drawing, with Clint seemingly staring straight out of the poster. With its gritty, leather looking background it makes for a striking design. It’s certainly unique, and we think it’s a corker. Another great example of Japanese marketing.