THE PEKING MAN (Taiwan, 1974) – Original Taiwanese One-Sheet Movie Poster – Hwo Kuo Movie Studio

This is an original theatrical poster from Taiwan for The Peking Man, a fantastical martial arts exploitation film produced by Hwo Kuo Movie Studio Co., Ltd., and directed by Chang Mei-Chun. Featuring Yeung C. Lee, I Yuan, Luslie Sun, and guest star Tsai Hung, the film is a wild hybrid of kung fu action, prehistoric fantasy, and Bruceploitation elements. The poster is for the English-language export version, as indicated by the text in the bottom credits, and was printed in Eastmancolor / Cinemascope during the height of the international martial arts craze of the 1970s.

The artwork is a striking pop collage composition that stands out for its bizarre visual mix: oversized skulls of Peking Man in surreal pink and gray hues, shirtless kung fu fighters in dramatic poses, and an evolutionary timeline at the base—all anchored by bold gothic typography in red and white. Its loud, clashing design is emblematic of Taiwanese posters from this era, which often used photomontage and pulp-inspired aesthetics to market to foreign and domestic audiences alike.

Condition: Good to Very Good for its age. This poster was originally folded, as issued, and shows strong fold lines, with wear and small tears at the crossfolds—especially along the vertical center. There is a clean paper split along the upper fold and some edge chipping and tearing at the top and bottom margins. The colors remain vivid, and the artwork is still crisp and complete. The reverse side reveals deep exposure toning, especially dramatic due to prolonged light contact, creating visible silhouettes of the printed areas. There are also some pencil notations and tack holes at corners.

Format & Size: This is a Taiwanese one-sheet poster, measuring approximately 28 x 42 inches (a variation slightly larger than the typical U.S. 27x41 format). Posters from Taiwan were printed on thin, pulp-based paper, which makes surviving examples in solid condition increasingly hard to find.

Rarity & Collector Appeal: Posters like this are extremely scarce on the collector’s market, especially in their original, unrestored state. Taiwanese posters from the 1970s were not widely distributed outside East and Southeast Asia, and most were discarded after theatrical runs. This one is particularly valuable for several reasons:

• It represents a rare cross-section of martial arts and exploitation cinema.

• The artwork is visually chaotic and unique, typical of regional design aesthetics now gaining attention among international collectors.

• It features Bruceploitation iconography during the global Bruce Lee craze.

• The subject matter—prehistoric man meets kung fu—is a curiosity even within niche genres, making it highly desirable for collectors of offbeat cult cinema.

This poster is a true collector’s gem, ideal for enthusiasts of Asian genre films, exploitation artwork, or vintage international cinema ephemera. With its rarity, bizarre subject matter, and bold visual design, The Peking Man is not just a conversation piece—it’s a relic of a time when global cinema pushed the boundaries of creativity and spectacle.