A narrative feature made from a collage of clips from various films around the world.
Gozo Kunizaki
Naomi is a university student who is leaving for the US to study in a week; Shuichi is a washed-up gumshoe who's hired by Naomi's father to bodygard his daughter until she leaves. Shuichi finds the job annoying and wants to quit. But he also has a screwed-up ex and alimony to pay. Things go from bad to worse when Naomi and Shuichi stumble upon a murder which might involve the yakuza. They decide to find out who committed the murder but God knows what it will lead to.
After a passenger ship sinks in 1954, Go Akutsu devises a life-saving project in the form of a tunnel under the Tsugaru Strait. While working on this project Akutsu becomes involved with Tae Makimura leading to his estrangement from his wife.
Depicting the friendship of three boys in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo.
Navy Minister Oikawa
A lavish retelling of the true story of the final voyage and ultimate destruction and sinking of the battleship Yamato, Japan's greatest flagship during the Second World War.
A trio of high school boys get summer jobs at a seaside resort. Soon, however, they learn that the woman who runs it is in financial trouble. The three decide to help her.
Hanuemon Otowaya
Ryokichi Sakata
Kanno is a Yakuza. He had to kill Matsuoka who betrayed their boss. Kanno knew Matsuoka had a 3-year-old daughter named Youko. Before he gave himself to the police, he asked his trusted man to take care of her. While in prison, Kanno kept sending letters to Youko, disguising as an uncle in Brazil. 15 years later, Kanno is released. He is determined to live legitimately, however the Yakuza has not forgotten his wicked deed!
Mainly the story of Shinsuke and his stepmother, ranging from Shinsuke's infanthood to his mid-teens. Coal workers and the mines dominate nearly every aspect of the life of the characters. Shinsuke's father dies while bravely using dynamite to rescue a group of trapped Korean miners. Several older men attempt to help he and his mother cope, including a kind Korean and a Harley-riding yakuza.
A ruffian joins the ranks of the emperor’s guards.
Chief Kishida
A theatrical release of The Return of Ultraman episodes 13-14. It was released on December 12, 1971 as part of the Toho Champion Festival along with Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Earth's Greatest Battle ( edited from Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster and shorter versions of The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee, and The Little Match Girl.
Former inmate Katsuji gets involved in the horse gambling business while lending a helping hand to a ranch operator.
Chief Kishida
Episodes 5 and 6 of Return of Ultraman show, screened at Toho Championship Festival.
Rear Adm. Tamon Yamaguchi
Tora! Tora! Tora! es la señal japonesa para atacar. La película reproduce de manera meticulosa el ataque a Pearl Harbor y todos los hechos que le precedieron. Las primeras escenas nos muestran las diferencias entre ambas posturas: por una parte los imperialistas japoneses deciden realizar un ataque por etapas, por otro lado los altos mandos del ejército americano ignoran esta posibilidad. A pesar de que algunos mensajes interceptados a los japoneses advertían de este peligro, éstos nunca llegaron a las manos de la alta comandancia del ejército americano. Los avisos de los radares son ignorados, incluso la caza de un submarino japonés en Pearl Harbor antes del ataque no se reporta.
In the prewar days leading up to the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937, head flight instructor Lt. Katō Tateo of the Imperial Japanese Army-Air Corps trains new volunteers from the Army's Infantry to become Japan's next generation of fighter pilots at the Tokorozawa Flying School. Flying Kawasaki Ko-4 biplanes, Lt. Katō will train both friend and future foe alike. But as war in China breaks out, Katō now in command of the 5th Rentai will take his untested men flying antiquated planes into aerial combat against the Chinese Air Force who is now headed by Lt. Cho who Katō both earlier befriended and personally trained himself. While Katō's squadron ultimately achieves air superiority over the skies of Manchuria, it comes at a high price in men to which each loss carries a heavy burden that he alone must carry. As the war widens into the Second World War, Captain Katō must battle an ever advancing array of deadlier new enemies flying ever more modern fighter planes.
Uemura
Japón y Rusia chocan en lo que se conoció como la Guerra Ruso Japonesa. Un intento de flota y el ejército japonés para tomar el puerto de Arthur falla, y una flota rusa surca en el mar de Japón. El almirante Heihachiro Togo envía su flota a combatir a los rusos, con resultados que merman a las 2 naciones. Mientras tanto, el mayor Genjiro Akashi negocia secretamente con los revolucionarios bolcheviques, negociaciones que tienen repercusiones mas allá del conflicto en sí.
Kurita
Mientras Japón cierra un pacto político con la Alemania nazi y la Italia fascista, el almirante Isoroku Yamamoto es nombrado comandante supremo de la flota japonesa. Con Japón abocado inexorablemente a la guerra, Yamamoto, a pesar de sus dudas, cree que la única posibilidad de victoria reside en destruir la flota americana por sorpresa en Pearl Harbor. El ataque es un éxito, pero no consiguen destruir la flota de portaviones americanos. Por eso Yamamoto se ve obligado a llevar a la flota japonesa al combate, con muy pocas esperanzas de victoria...
The second of two films based on the novel by Futaro Yamada.
Colonel Toyojiro Haga - CO Imperial Guards 2nd Infantry Regiment
Después de la detonación de las bombas atómicas de Hiroshima y Nagasaki, el ejército japonés y el gobierno se enfrentan por la demanda de los aliados de la rendición incondicional. El Ministro de Defensa Anami defiende el continuar luchando, hasta la muerte del último japonés si hace falta. El Emperador Hirohito se reune con sus ministros para solicitar la impensable rendición pacífica del Japón. Cuando el ejército planea un golpe para derrocar al gobierno civil del Emperador, Anani debe decidir entre sus deseos o su lealtad al Emperador.
Shogen the Instructor
Sasaki Kojiro tells the story of the genius who staked his love, glory, and life on a duel with the supreme master of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi (Tatsuya Nakadai). Oscar winning Hiroshi Inagaki directs this epic motion picture based on Genzo Murakami’s fascinating story. Despite his humble birth, the orphan Sasaki Kojiro (Onoe Kikunosuke) is determined to become the foremost swordsman in all Japan, a title that traditionally belongs to a nobleman. At fencing school, young Kojiro receives the contempt of his classmates because of his superior swordsmanship. When rumors of the upcoming civil war between Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans spread, Kojiro leaves the school and sets out, seizing every opportunity to realize his dream.
The son of a prominent member of a fishing community returns home after a stint with the yakuza to find his father has died under orders of a local gang leader. He sets out to avenge his father, keeping his plans secret from his mother who is cold to him since his perceived abandonment of the family. This wonderful, if little-seen, Fulasaku gem deals with family, community and what it means to do right by both.
Tokutaro Hayami
A lone wolf tries to eliminate a drug-smuggling operation.
Japanese war movie.
Osaka Police Chief
Alemania, 1945. El corazón del monstruo de Frankenstein es conducido a Japón y, mientras es examinado, cae la bomba de Hiroshima. Quince años más tarde, un niño que ha brotado del corazón inmortal es atrapado, pero se comprueba que su crecimiento es imparable.
Akitani
In 1943, the Aleutian island of Kiska was fortified by a small contingent of Japanese soldiers. When word arrived of an impending attack by an overwhelming force of Americans, the Japanese Navy attempted one of the most daring and unlikely evacuations in military history. This is that story.
The first of two films based on the novel by Futaro Yamada.
Police Chief
Un exitoso hombre de negocios es acechado por su pasado cuando una prostituta lo reconoce como asesino.
Tatewaki Todo
Japón, 1860. Los hombres del clan Mito, víctimas de la purga de Ansei, merodean ansiosamente en torno a la puerta Sakurada del castillo de Edo con la intención de asesinar a Naosuke Ii de Hikone, tairō del shogunato Tokugawa y responsable de su desgracia.
General Iwasa
En todas partes del mundo se suceden robos de diamantes de manera casi simultánea. En Japón el inexperto inspector Kommei es asignado a rastrear una banda de ladrones de piedras preciosas, quienes se cree que son los principales responsables a nivel local. Pero a medida que avanza la investigación, empiezan a relacionar la desaparición de los diamantes con la presencia de un gigantesco monstruo espacial que se encuentra en la órbita de la Tierra. Y es que la ameba gigante parece alimentarse de todos los derivados de carbono. La inquietud que acosa a la humanidad es qué pasara cuando las reservas de carbón y diamantes se agoten en el planeta. Y la sospecha puntual es que Dogora comience a asimilar seres humanos, cuyos cuerpos están también compuestos de carbono.
Head of JSDF task force
En una playa de Japón, unos pescadores descubren un huevo gigantesco. El huevo es vendido a Yamamura, un corrupto hombre de negocios que pretende incubarlo para convertir a la criatura contenida en él en la principal atracción de un parque temático de próxima inauguración. Yamamura no toma en serio a las dos diminutas gemelas protectoras de Mothra, las Aelinas, que lideran una iniciativa popular para que el huevo sea devuelto a su madre, que solo accederá a enfrentarse con Godzilla cuando este amenace la integridad de su criatura.
Defense Commander
Varios sucesos extraños están ocurriendo en todo el mundo, incluyendo la desaparición de dos ingenieros. El exalmirante Kosumi casi es secuestrado junto con su secretaria y ahijada, Makoto. El fotógrafo Susumu Hatanaka y su asistente han logrado frustrar el intento de secuestro. Más tarde se revela quiénes son los responsables de los misteriosos acontecimientos: es el Imperio Mu, teóricamente desaparecido hace 12.000 años, y están planeando invadir el mundo de la superficie para reclamar sus supuestas colonias. Es que la civilización del continente perdido ha sobrevivido a su catastrófico hundimiento, viviendo por miles de años bajo el océano Pacífico en cuevas inmensas.
Kagawa Tanomo
This Japanese action-adventure is set in the 17th century when all forms of swordplay were banned. One fighter, an excellent swordsman believes the law is unfair. His brother keeps his opinions about the law to himself. The swordsman vents his frustration by cutting off the thumbs of an enemy. The fighter is then banished. To live, he becomes a thief. To restore the family's lost honor, the other brother is forced to challenge the fighter to a duel.
Chief of First Investigating Section
En un momento crucial de su vida financiera, Gondo, un hombre de negocios, recibe la noticia de que su hijo ha sido secuestrado, y el rescate exigido es una cantidad de dinero similar a la que necesita para cerrar una importante negociación. Gondo está dispuesto a pagar el rescate hasta que comprende que los secuestradores se han equivocado y se han llevado al hijo del chófer. Ahora deberá decidir si el dinero es más importante que la vida del niño.
Yamato Commander Ito
El Teniente Coronel Senda se resiste a la idea de enviar a los pilotos de los cazas en misiones suicidas. El cree que lo que necesita el ejército japonés para volver a dominar la guerra es que la fuerza aérea reúna a los mejores pilotos en un solo escuadrón para realizar ataques quirúrgicos a los americanos. Despreciados por los Kamikazes, que llaman a los pilotos "no-suicidas" cobardes, la unidad se redime a sí misma cosechando victoria tras victoria. Pero el éxito lleva a los jefes militares a esperar demasiado de la unidad, lo que llevará a un desenlace fatal.
Esta impresionante historia épica ha sido a veces etiquetada como la versión japonesa de "Lo Que El Viento Se Llevó". Chusha Ichikawa personifica a un señor feudal poderoso y despiadado que lucha contra el virtuoso y joven noble, Yuzo Kayama. Ichikawa encuentra una victoria parcial cuando engaña a Kayama y lo convence de hacerse el Hara Kiri. La venganza será realizada por los cuarenta y siete samuráis de Kayama. Basada en una leyenda japonesa venerable, la historia de Chushingura ha sido filmada en varias ocasiones, pero sólo la versión de 1941 (47 Ronin) estuvo a la altura de la versión de 1962, del gran director Hiroshi Inagaki.
Lieutenant Masamune
An employee at an oil cartel (Mihashi) is haunted by an act years before when he euthanized a fellow soldier when the two were adrift at sea during the Pacific War. Matters are complicated further when he falls in love with the soldier's younger sister (Tsukasa).
Homma, Instructor Who Skips Town
En el siglo XIX, en un Japón todavía feudal, un samurái llega a un poblado, donde dos bandas de mercenarios luchan entre sí por el control del territorio. Muy pronto el recién llegado da muestras de ser un guerrero invencible, por lo que los jefes de las dos bandas intentan contratar sus servicios.
Katsuyasu Sakakibara
During the raging war between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans, the swordsman Mohei (whose family has been completely decimated) is recruited by Toyotomi to overcome the seat of power, Osaka Castle. Mohei's daredevil skills will be put to severe tests.
Detective
La hija del presidente de una importante empresa inmobiliaria se casa con Nishi, el secretario de su padre. Durante la boda, ciertos rumores y comentarios circulan entre los invitados: cinco años antes, cuando un hombre murió, tras caer por la ventana del último piso del edificio de la compañía, mucha gente dudó de la versión oficial, según la cual se había tratado de un suicidio.
Koji Kitami pilota uno de los bombarderos de la fuerza aérea japonesa. Él participó en el bombardeo de la base naval americana de Pearl Harbor en 1941, por lo que cuando vuelve a su ciudad natal todos le reciben con honores y orgullo. Esos hechos junto a las victorias japonesas en la guerra hacen que Kitami entre en un estado de exaltación por el honor japonés, algo que no le hará mucho bien cuando la flota nipona es derrotada en la batalla de Midway.
Magistrate Jubei Matsui
Chuji Kunisada vuelve a su pueblo natal y descubre que Jubei Matsui, un juez corrupto, ha sido el responsable de la destrucción de la familia Kunisada. Una nueva tragedia lleva a Chuji a unirse a una banda que vive en el bosque robando a los ricos para dárselo a los pobres, siempre con un ojo puesto en vengarse del Magistrado Matsui.
Boss Daihachi
Tossing his hat in the air to pick a direction, Yataro the wanderer sets out on a journey of adventure, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. The son of a Hatamoto, he has left the samurai life and become a yakuza, gambling on life's fortune and ready to risk his life at a moment's notice. Featuring an all-star cast that includes the debonair Azuma Chiyonosuke, this is a tale of excitement and action that brings the best of black and white to the silver screen. An adventure like no other, this is one of Kinnosuke's lost gems. A series of mishaps leads Yataro to watching over the beloved daughter of his close friend.
Naruto Nitôhei
Segunda Guerra Mundial (1939-1945). Forzado a unirse al ejército japonés durante la contienda, Kaji es enviado a Manchuria. Allí entabla amistad con un soldado que simpatiza con el comunismo. Tras una breve visita de su esposa, Kaji es enviado con su unidad al campo de batalla, del que muchos de sus compañeros nunca regresarán.
In World War II, the commanding officer of a sub, against his will takes on board two Western diplomats, to take them to the Canaries and arrange an armistice. When they get there, peace has been declared, but the sub's crew don't know as their radio has failed. They send their passengers ashore and go out to face a final battle...
The mythical adventures of the legendary Chinese trickster Monkey, who must outwit a variety of wily demons who stand in the way of him and his fellow Buddhist travelers. Though portrayed as a literal, if rather anthropomorphized, monkey in the original legends, this film substitutes the spindly comic actor Norihei Miki, sans makeup.
General Yano
On a post-war peaceful day in Japan, Toyomatsu Shimizu, a barber as well as a good father and husband, is suddenly arrested by the Prefectural Police as a war criminal and sued for murder.
General Hyoe Tadokoro
Matashichi (Kamatari Fujiwara) y Tahei (Minoru Chiaki) son dos soldados huidos del conflicto bélico, que buscan el enriquecimiento. Cuando encuentran oro, se dan cuenta de que son vigilados por un silencioso y misterioso hombre, que finalmente resulta ser el célebre general Rokurota Makabe (Toshiro Mifune), quien utilizará a los dos soldados, ignorantes de la identidad de sus acompañantes, para transportar una gran cantidad de oro y liberar a la princesa Yukihime (Misa Uehara). Una divertida comedia de aventuras firmada por el gran Akira Kurosawa, que influyó notablemente en la construcción de personajes de la saga "Star Wars" de George Lucas.
Kogoro Akechi
Adaptation of Edogawa Ranpo's novel.
Bright samurai movie innovatively adapted from a classic story. A traveling masterless samurai is asked by a daughter of an established samurai family to pretend they are a married couple, and gets involved in the troubles of the samurai clan.
Gen. Morita
Un grupo de extraterrestres llega a la Tierra y pide permiso para conseguir un lugar donde su gente pueda vivir. Pero pronto se descubre que realmente son invasores, creadores ademas de un gran robot que está destruyendo las ciudades terráqueas, por lo que las fuerzas militares humanas tratarán de detenerlo con cualquier arma disponible.
Narra las aventuras que corren dos niños, uno americano y otro japonés, al escaparse éste último de casa para ayudar a su amigo a encontrar a sus padres. Estas aventuras sirven de pretexto para mostrar la belleza y las costumbres del Japón.
Kaoru Inoue
Meiji Tenno portrayed the ramp up to the Russo-Japan War. In addition to showing the political events that led to war, it also showed the era from the story of a farm family in rural Japan who sent their son off to war. As such, it could be considered an anti-war movie, showing how, while war is devised by governments, the people do not really understand what war is, and it's combatants often do not know what they are fighting for.
Based on the famous novel by Yamagami Itaro, this is the story of a group of ronin living in abject poverty in the latter days of the Edo period. Starring the great Konoe Jushiro, Ronin Gai is populated by an ensemble of colorful characters, social outcasts who patronize a restaurant and bar on the outskirts of Edo. Among them are masterless samurai reduced to drunkenness and debauchery. One disgraced and disillusioned former warrior gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to retrieve a famous knife from a corrupt lord. This is the third version directed by Makino Masahiro and is considered a true classic.
1956 Japanese film, originally released in two parts.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto leads the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy to defeat the American Fleet.
1956 Japanese film, originally released in two parts.
Japanese comedy film.
Dad
A little girl who falls into a lake and is saved by a god who then takes her up to the clouds and shows her what the world was like before she was born and what the world would be like if she where never born. While in the clouds she meets her grandparents and a few other people she loved who have passed on.
Japanese war film.
Kingorô Tamai
Dai-ni-bu: Aijô ruten: Kiyoshi Saeki directed movie
Kingorô Tamai
Dai-ichi-bu: Dôkai-wan no rantô - Kiyoshi Saeki directed movie.
Japanese war drama.
Jiro Nomura
The film is about the Yamato's suicide mission to Okinawa in March 1945 to defend the homeland threatened by U.S. bombers. Adapted from Mitsuru Yoshida's 1952 book "Requiem for the Battleship Yamato".
Dr. Oka
A group of Okinawan high school girls are drafted as nurses during the American invasion of the island. As the enemy army advances further, the situation for the girls becomes increasingly desperate as food and shelter run out and the number of injured climbs, leading to the film's tragic finale.
Iori Saotome
Jidai-geki starring Kanjuro Arashi
Togashi
Japón medieval. Un samurai huye de su hermano. Tanto él como sus guardaespaldas tienen que disfrazarse de sacerdotes para atravesar un bosque y eludir a los guardias de la frontera.
Shunsuke Washimi, a member of the karate club, misunderstands the affections of Chiyo, a lodging house girl who is in love with him and in the midst of a confusion challenges Yamauchi Tatsuhiko to a fight, forgetting the true core of martial arts, that should only be used as a selfdefense.
Chief Takagi
Japanese drama film.
Sergeant Odagiri
War film by Kon Ichikawa
Adaptation of the original story by Hida Yoshiro, whose depiction of the world of the yakuza is unparalleled. Gisuke, a weather-beaten yakuza with nostalgia and memories of love in his heart.
Mimaki
Kumasuke Arai
An early film by Kon Ichikawa
Ishimatsu
The tale of a feudal swordsman who cynically takes no responsibility for anything, relegating it to others, and then taking the credit.
Directed by Eisuke Takizawa
La hija mayor de los Takamatsu, Atsuko, viuda, vuelve a la casa paterna porque no congenia con su familia política. Por su parte, la hija menor, Yukiko, está enamorada de un profesor mayor que ella y no duda en salir de excursión con él pese al disgusto de su padre. Todo ello, unido a que Yukiko y Atusko se llevan bastante mal, va a sacudir los cimientos de la familia Takamatsu.
A film dealing with the comings and goings of individuals in the immediate postwar period.
Goro Asahina
A newly hired daily newspaper writer covering the society beat receives an assignment to cover Tokyo at night by walking and observing it. He gets into the right frame of mind by dressing the part as a vagrant with not a penny to his name. He gets into trouble ending up at the police station slammer overnight. He has no material to write about and, with his assignment unfulfilled, faces a cross editor.
Ruykichi Noge
Yukie, hija de un profesor universitario, se queda conmocionada cuando su padre es expulsado de su cátedra por sus enseñanzas políticas, pero mucho más aún cuando su novio es arrestado y ejecutado bajo la acusación de espionaje.
Lord for a Night is a 1946 Japanese film directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa.
Fujita
Dos hermanas, una bailarina y la otra supervisora de guiones de un gran estudio de cine, se ven envueltas en una huelga de trabajadores del ferrocarril.
Tadashi Imai 1946 movie
Goro Urashima
Reputedly based on Frank Capra’s 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, A Descendant of Tarô Urashima is about a repatriated soldier who becomes populist politician in the Japanese Happiness Party.
The story of an airport and its air traffic control crew in a remote and northern Japanese town. Three of the air traffic controllers are female with one of them working with her dead fiancé's sister. The engaged man had gone to war and never returned.
Yagyu Tajima-no-kami
During the Warring States era, Hozoin Kakuzenbo and Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, being best friends, spend their days acquiring skills of the spear, sword and martial arts. Hozoin loses a series of matches with master swordsman Kozumi Ise-no-kami. Bitterly ashamed, Hozoin embarks on a journey, trying to perfect his skills. A few years later, Hozoin is ready and it's time for the ultimate showdown with Ise-no-kami!
Sanshiro Sugata
Sanshiro Sugata tiene que enfrentarse a nuevos retos y luchar contra adversarios cada vez más difíciles, pero no por ello dejará de aprender, a través de las artes marciales, una filosofía que le permitirá orientar su vida.
Mikami
Three IJN flyers Mikami (Susumu Fujita), Kawakami (Masayuki Mori) and Murakami (Akitake Kono) are good friends, and they are all renowned for their torpedo techniques. Mikami is posted as a staff officer at a base on an island in the Pacific. Kawakami and Murakami later joins him as the base squardron is reinforced. The enemy task force approaches the island and all three of them attack the fleet, killing themselves in the process.
Colonel Kato
El Coronel Kato es un verdadero oficial que sirve a la Fuerza Aérea de Ejército Japonés Imperial en el Sudeste Asiático. Un oficial muy respetado por sus pilotos por su imparcialidad y su su excelente capacidad de vuelo. Su heroísmo y atractivos atributos físicos hacen de él un instrumento ideal para la maquinaria propagandística japonesa que encargó esta película a dos años de haber sido asesinado el Coronel Kato. No es un biopic de la vida y muerte de Kato. La película es más sobre el honor, el deber y la abnegación – esencialmente del liderazgo.
Kensuke Shibata
Set in wartime at the Yawata Steel Works in Tobata, Yawata, and Kokura cities in Fukuoka Prefecture, the film depicts people taking on the evil blast furnaces that prevent increased production. The film was shot on location at the actual Yawata Steel Works for an extended period of time, and special effects were created using a miniature blast furnace that closely reproduces the actual one.
Sanshiro Sugata
1883, a principios de la era Meijii. Sanshiro Sugata es discípulo de Shogoro Yano, un maestro de judo. A lo largo de su aprendizaje y de sus combates aprenderá los principios y valores primordiales de una filosofía que le permitira guiar sus pasos en la vida.
Yamashita
Japanese Navy air cadets train for the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the HMS Prince of Wales.
The premature death of a young mother serves as inspiration for her husband and son.
Set in Qingdao, China, a Japanese company locates an office there and begins work and cooperation with a local Chinese company for business. Many Japanese engineers also move to China, with their families, for the company in order to construct a canal. There are young Chinese resisting the Japanese in this area.
Shintaro Sagawa
In this semi-documentary, an older locomotive driver is tasked with training younger ones and is currently training two in particular. The old man is finding the task overwhelming as it is hard work with practical lessons and classroom components. His wife has died, but he has three daughters with the oldest taking care of her younger siblings.
A Japanese army engineer (Hasegawa) on the mainland must put his personal feelings for a beautiful Chinese woman (Ri) aside if he is to succeed at building a highway through the "bandit"- (aka anti-Japanese militia-) infested hinterlands.
Okumura Ioko story directed by Shiro Toyoda
Japanese propaganda film
The film was produced during Second Sino-Japanese War, before the Pearl Harbor Attack in 1941. The film mainly concerns the training of newly-recruited pilots and their daily life, then their subsequent fighting experiences in China. Army supported the production, providing all the authentic airplanes, training and actual actions. They even provided the older biplanes disguised as Chinese fighter planes. Obinata plays the trainer-turned-combat-leader, who is passionate and cool at the same time. All his boys love him, of course. The film is not as intense, full of sugar-coated camaraderie, until young pilots are killed in action one by one. Last twenty minutes are fairly grim, as the message of self-sacrifice is heard loud and clear.
Song of the White Orchid was a co-production of Toho and Mantetsu, the railway that served the colonial region of Manchuria, and the first film in the Kazuo Hasegawa/Shirley Yamaguchi (Ri Koran) “Continental Trilogy.” Handsome Hasegawa (representing Japan) runs up against an impertinent Yamaguchi (representing the continent); not surprisingly, in the course of the film the woman comes around and realizes the benevolent intentions of the Japanese. In Song of the White Orchid Yamaguchi leaves Hasegawa, who plays an expatriate working for the railway, because of a misunderstanding. She joins a communist guerilla group plotting to blow up the Manchurian railway. Learning of the subterfuge that led to the misunderstanding, she renews her faith in Hasegawa—and by extension Japan—and tries to undermine the plot.
Genji's fellow worker
The Whole Family Works, Mikio Naruse's adaptation of a Sunao Tokunaga novel, feels more of a piece with the writer/director's quietly observant and psychologically charged later work. For the Naruse-familiar, it is an anomaly only in its placement within his filmography—indeed, this could be a film made by the elder, stasis-minded Naruse momentarily inhabiting, through a metaphysical twist of fate, his stylistically exuberant younger self. Set in depression-era Japan around the time of the Sino-Japanese War (which the director evokes, during a brief dream sequence, by dissolving between children's war games and actual adult warfare), The Whole Family Works gently observes a family coming apart at the seams. Ishimura (Musei Tokugawa) is the jobless father of nine children.
