Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (Aru eiga-kantoku no shogai) is a 1975 Japanese documentary film on the life and works of director Kenji Mizoguchi, directed by Kaneto Shindo (Onibaba). It runs 150 minutes and can be found on the second disc of the Region 1 Criterion Collection release of Ugetsu (1953).
Adaptation
In the sixth and final episode Rentaro Mikuni steals the show as Baiken Shishido, Musashi's nemesis. Mikuni is the nominal villain of the film, but he is a devoted husband and father as well. He tries to kill Musashi only to avenge the death of his brother-in-law. While Baiken (who wields a chain and sickle against Musashi's sword) is a very human character and the emotions that Mikuni displays in his performance are quite believable and engaging
Screenplay
The story of Ryoma Sakamoto, considered to be the architect behind the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate. He was considered an outlaw by his own clan, hunted by his government, and was despised by supporters of the Shogun as well as the Loyalists for desiring the opening of Japan to the West in order to learn its technology, in the hopes of one day defeating the West with a modern army and navy.
Director
The story of Ryoma Sakamoto, considered to be the architect behind the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate. He was considered an outlaw by his own clan, hunted by his government, and was despised by supporters of the Shogun as well as the Loyalists for desiring the opening of Japan to the West in order to learn its technology, in the hopes of one day defeating the West with a modern army and navy.
Writer
The tragic, yet exciting story of the friendship between Nakayama Yasubei, a member of the 47 Ronin, and Tange Tenzen, a relative by marriage of the vile Lord Kira. Remake of Hakuôki AKA Samurai Vendetta (1959).
Director
Shinkichi, a peasant employed as a cloth-dyer, has a dream: in the midst of the civil war which ravages Japan, he hopes to revive the long-banned custom of the Kyoto Gion Festival, and by doing so, bring together the warring clans and rampaging brigands in peaceful celebration.
Screenplay
Nemuri Kyoshiro discovers a conspiracy centering around a band of disgruntled samurai wanting to avenge the death of their sensei, a political reformer that pushed for better provisions for the lower classes until he was assassinated by Shogunate agents. Their plot, to set fire to the oil refineries of two rich merchants and unleash a raging inferno that will hopefully burn down the Edo Castle.
Screenplay
大阪周辺を荒らしまわり、俺こそ、泥棒番付、東の横綱じゃいとうそぶく佐渡八を主人公に、肝っ玉の座ったその盗みっぷりを描き、それに、鬼与力との人間的な交情や体当たりの愛情を必死にぶつける娘、こそ泥を更生さす為に預って二人でうどん屋を開業するなど、泥棒ならではの痛快篇！
Screenplay
Zatoichi makes friends with a dangerous chess player, while fending off angry yakuza and bloodthirsty relatives out for revenge, and trying to save a sick child. Meanwhile, his luck with dice is turning.
Screenplay
In turbulent 16th-century Japan, the leaders of a minor fief have their child taken from them as a political hostage. His mother and his clan endure years of tribulations until he can return.
Director
In turbulent 16th-century Japan, the leaders of a minor fief have their child taken from them as a political hostage. His mother and his clan endure years of tribulations until he can return.
Screenplay
Adaptation of novel.
Screenplay
人入れ稼業井筒屋の抱え人足で槍奴ぶりが評判の伊達男、権三と浪人者凡河内典膳の娘ちづはかねてからの恋仲だが、娘の夫は武士でなければという典繕の一徹さのために結婚出来ないでいた。そんなことから権三は武士になりたいと願うようになった。ある日、井筒屋に小大名小此木藩から九州へ帰国のための人足を雇いたいという注文が舞い込み、権三は仲間の助十たちと旅に出ることになった。ちづと変らぬ愛情を誓い合い旅に出た権三は...
Director
人入れ稼業井筒屋の抱え人足で槍奴ぶりが評判の伊達男、権三と浪人者凡河内典膳の娘ちづはかねてからの恋仲だが、娘の夫は武士でなければという典繕の一徹さのために結婚出来ないでいた。そんなことから権三は武士になりたいと願うようになった。ある日、井筒屋に小大名小此木藩から九州へ帰国のための人足を雇いたいという注文が舞い込み、権三は仲間の助十たちと旅に出ることになった。ちづと変らぬ愛情を誓い合い旅に出た権三は...
Screenplay
三上於菟吉の同名時代小説を、伊藤大輔と衣笠貞之助が脚色、和田夏十がシナリオ化し、市川崑がメガホンをとった。1935年版に主演した長谷川一夫が、再び中村雪之丞と闇太郎の二役を演じた。その他、山本富士子や若尾文子、市川雷蔵、勝新太郎など豪華な出演者が顔をそろえた。長谷川一夫300本記念作品。
江戸で興行を張る上方歌舞伎の女形役者・中村雪之丞は、父を冤罪で陥れ自死に至らしめた土部三斎と広海屋の姿を認めた。三斎の娘の浪路は雪之丞に恋をし、雪之丞は彼女を利用して父の仇を討とうとする。江戸の飢饉に乗じて米を買い占めていた川口屋は、雪之丞にそそのかされた広海屋に邪魔され破産、広海屋に放火した。怒った広海屋は川口屋を絞め殺すが、誘拐しようとした浪路に刺されてしまう。
Screenplay
The film takes place at the junction of the two eras of Meiji and Taisho. Sakata Sankichi, an uneducated zori sandal maker, becomes a professional shogi player through his genius shogi skills and lives a fanatically devoted shogi game supported by the love of his family. This is the 3rd adaptation of Hideji Hojo's famous play.
Director
The film takes place at the junction of the two eras of Meiji and Taisho. Sakata Sankichi, an uneducated zori sandal maker, becomes a professional shogi player through his genius shogi skills and lives a fanatically devoted shogi game supported by the love of his family. This is the 3rd adaptation of Hideji Hojo's famous play.
Screenplay
In the third, and final chapter of this epic tale, handsome swordsman Genji helps a vulnerable princess who is in search of a missing scroll that belongs to the Shogun. This is one of the most highly regarded trilogies featuring a youthful Nakamura Kinnosuke in one of his best roles. This was Kinnosuke at the height of his career, with charm, honor and a vicious sword. If you enjoyed the first two films in the series, you can't miss the exciting conclusion. Even without know-ledge of the first two films, this movie stands on its own with great action throughout!
Director
In the third, and final chapter of this epic tale, handsome swordsman Genji helps a vulnerable princess who is in search of a missing scroll that belongs to the Shogun. This is one of the most highly regarded trilogies featuring a youthful Nakamura Kinnosuke in one of his best roles. This was Kinnosuke at the height of his career, with charm, honor and a vicious sword. If you enjoyed the first two films in the series, you can't miss the exciting conclusion. Even without know-ledge of the first two films, this movie stands on its own with great action throughout!
Director
Young lord Saburo Nobuyasu struggles to find comfort in life. His arranged marriage to Tokuhime, daughter of one-time family enemy Oda Nobunaga, provides little happiness. His manipulative mother adds further complications through her constant interference and attempts at defeating the Nobunaga family.
Screenplay
Young lord Saburo Nobuyasu struggles to find comfort in life. His arranged marriage to Tokuhime, daughter of one-time family enemy Oda Nobunaga, provides little happiness. His manipulative mother adds further complications through her constant interference and attempts at defeating the Nobunaga family.
Screenplay
Young swordsman, Tsukigata Hanpeita, longs for the day when rival clans cease their struggles for power and put an end to meaningless feudal wars. When he is appointed to oversee the Choshu Clan, he takes it upon himself to work towards the peace that he has dreamed about. With his affectionate personality and compassion for life, Hanpeita’s popularity grows among the people, making him a threat to those thirsty for conflict and power. A betrayal by those closest to him leaves Hanpeita caught in a trap that could ultimately cost him his life.
Screenplay
Screenplay
Director
Writer
The film depicts the scarring of Yosaburo at the hands of yakuza thugs who catch him with mistress of the gang boss. Despite the physical and emotional scars he now carries with him, Yosaburo falls for a young noblewoman. The rest of the film follows the two as they fend off attacks from gangs and the police.
Director
The film depicts the scarring of Yosaburo at the hands of yakuza thugs who catch him with mistress of the gang boss. Despite the physical and emotional scars he now carries with him, Yosaburo falls for a young noblewoman. The rest of the film follows the two as they fend off attacks from gangs and the police.
Writer
Two amiable samurai wind up on opposite sides of the vendetta between Lord Asano's retainers and the family of Lord Kira that led to the famous revenge of the 47 Ronin.
Writer
Director
Director
The film won 1959 Blue Ribbon Awards for best actor Raizo Ichikawa and for best cinematography Kazuo Miyagawa. The film also won 1959 Kinema Junpo Award for best actor Raizo Ichikawa.
Screenplay
Period drama based on the novel by Saisei Murō.
Director
Period drama based on the novel by Saisei Murō.
Director
Based on the original work by Shuji Hojo, Itohan Monogatari depicts the fate of a clumsy and kind-hearted woman in the Taisho era.
Director
Japanese film.
Screenplay
Japanese film.
Screenplay
The tragedy of the geiko girl Ume and the men who try to pursue her.
Director
The tragedy of the geiko girl Ume and the men who try to pursue her.
Screenplay
In the town of Yumoto, Asakichi, a left-arm-less gambler who had been winning at the gambling hall, was attracted by the sound of a faintly heard storyteller, Saman, and left his seat. Asakichi was fascinated by the voice of Oyasu, who sounded exactly like his wife Ochiyo, who had died three years earlier. Asakichi told Oyasu that Ochiyo had fled with him to his home town of Omigawa just before he was deposed by the samurai Shingo Inaba, but that he had put her through a lot of hardship to make her die. Oyasu's husband Tokujiro was a palace carpenter in Edo, but his skills were damaged and he came to take a cure. Asakichi heard about Oyasu's story and offered him money, and Tokujiro's arm was almost completely healed by Oyasu's nursing care.
Director
Based on the novel by Junichiro Tanizaki. Story of the beautiful blind daughter of a wealthy businessman who falls in love with a servant.
Writer
A film about the Ghost of Okiku that's based on the kabuki play Bancho Sarayashiki.
Director
A film about the Ghost of Okiku that's based on the kabuki play Bancho Sarayashiki.
Writer
This film stars Tanaka Kinuyo as the mother of the heir to the Hosho name, a famous lineage of Noh actors. The heir, Hosho Yagoro, is played by Hasegawa Kuzuo who went on to become familiar among Ichikawa Kon fans as Yukinojo in An Actor's Revenge, which was also co-written by Ito, adding to the relatedness of An Heir's Place.
Director
This film stars Tanaka Kinuyo as the mother of the heir to the Hosho name, a famous lineage of Noh actors. The heir, Hosho Yagoro, is played by Hasegawa Kuzuo who went on to become familiar among Ichikawa Kon fans as Yukinojo in An Actor's Revenge, which was also co-written by Ito, adding to the relatedness of An Heir's Place.
Director
During the 17th Century roving bands of hatamoto were causing trouble in the new capital city of Edo and constantly fought with the townspeople at every turn. The leader of these ruthless samruai was Mizuno Jirozaemon, who despite his high rank was in deep financial distress, thus leading to a tragedy that shook the very streets of the city.Opposing him was Banzui-in Chobei, the ‘Protector of the Weak’ who was willing to put his life on the line to save the 808 districts of Edo from the 80,000 hatamoto whose violent behavior threatened to destroy the fabric of society. Starring Bando Tsumasaburo, the first great star of the silver screen along with mega-star Ichikawa Utaemon, this is a story not to be missed. Torn from the pages of history, this true story has been told many times, but never as powerfully as this!
Director
A period mystery in which an unconventional priest exposes the truth behind the bizarre death of a maid in the shogun's harem. Kinuyo Tanaka stylishly plays a constantly intoxicated geisha in this all-star entertainment film.
Director
Screenplay
A village struggles to survive when the nearby lake becomes barren of fish.
Original Story
A village struggles to survive when the nearby lake becomes barren of fish.
Director
A village struggles to survive when the nearby lake becomes barren of fish.
Director
Screenplay
Director
Writer
不世出の将棋指し、坂田三吉を描く伝記ヒューマン・ドラマ。坂田は藁草履職人で長屋暮らしをしているが、三度の飯より将棋が好き。家財道具も仏壇も幼い娘の着物までも質に入れて会費を捻出、将棋大会に出かけてしまうが、どこか憎めない。妻の小春と娘の玉江が、そんな坂田を温かく見守る。
Director
不世出の将棋指し、坂田三吉を描く伝記ヒューマン・ドラマ。坂田は藁草履職人で長屋暮らしをしているが、三度の飯より将棋が好き。家財道具も仏壇も幼い娘の着物までも質に入れて会費を捻出、将棋大会に出かけてしまうが、どこか憎めない。妻の小春と娘の玉江が、そんな坂田を温かく見守る。
Screenplay
Directed by Daisuke Ito.
Director
Directed by Daisuke Ito.
Screenplay
Ito Daisuke's wartime retelling of the Miyamoto Musashi story.
Director
Ito Daisuke's wartime retelling of the Miyamoto Musashi story.
Screenplay
Directed by Daisuke Itô.
Director
Directed by Daisuke Itô.
Writer
Based on Soseki Natsume’s 1908 novel of the same title, Poppy is an ornately complicated story of desire and ambition. Fujio is beautiful, talented, well-heeled, and engaged to Munechika, a rising young diplomat. She has promised him a gold watch, a family heirloom, as an emblem of their engagement. But she falls in love with Ono, a student employed to tutor her in English, who is attracted by her beauty and wealth. Ono is himself bound by an engagement to Sayoko, the daughter of his mentor, Professor Inoue. The self-centered Fujio is ready to forsake everything for Ono, but he is prevailed upon to go ahead with his marriage to Sayoko. Fujio then offers the watch to Munechika who, perceiving Fujio’s true feelings, hurls the watch into the sea.
Writer
An onnagata (female impersonator) of a Kabuki troupe avenges his parents' deaths. Remade in 1963 as Yukinojô Henge.
Screenplay
Once a wealthy local land owner, Toranosuke has long since fallen on hard times. Social ostracism befalls those who neglect communal duties and Toranosuke's life goes down hill by being exiled from the village. The story evolves around brother and sister Umakichi and Oroku left alone by their father.
Director
Once a wealthy local land owner, Toranosuke has long since fallen on hard times. Social ostracism befalls those who neglect communal duties and Toranosuke's life goes down hill by being exiled from the village. The story evolves around brother and sister Umakichi and Oroku left alone by their father.
Director
Directed by Daisuke Itō.
Screenplay
Jidaigeki film, only a fragment remains of the original film.
Director
Jidaigeki film, only a fragment remains of the original film.
Writer
Director
Writer
Jirokichi the Rat is wanted in Edo for robbing the mansions of the rich. While on the run, he falls for Osen, a girl who has been sold to a brothel by her criminal brother, Nikichi. When he goes to find Nikichi, Jirokichi immediately falls for Okino, a poor girl who is also under threat from Nikichi.
Director
Jirokichi the Rat is wanted in Edo for robbing the mansions of the rich. While on the run, he falls for Osen, a girl who has been sold to a brothel by her criminal brother, Nikichi. When he goes to find Nikichi, Jirokichi immediately falls for Okino, a poor girl who is also under threat from Nikichi.
Screenplay
Director
Director
Writer
A Japanese silent film
Director
A Japanese silent film
Writer
In medieval Japan, a brutal and corrupt magistrate is planning to kill the child who is about to become the heir to the estate and position of the local lord and substitute his own "heir", an orphan, in order to get control of the late lord's estate and rule as the impostor's "regent". However, a mysterious stranger appears and sets out to thwart the magistrate's plans and free the people from his oppressive rule.
Director
In medieval Japan, a brutal and corrupt magistrate is planning to kill the child who is about to become the heir to the estate and position of the local lord and substitute his own "heir", an orphan, in order to get control of the late lord's estate and rule as the impostor's "regent". However, a mysterious stranger appears and sets out to thwart the magistrate's plans and free the people from his oppressive rule.
Writer
Silent Japanese film.
Director
Silent Japanese film.
Director
An adaptation of The Ghost of Yotsuya
Screenplay
Silent Japanese film.
Director
Silent Japanese film.
Director
Silent Japanese film.
Screenplay
A samurai comes to the aid of his uncle in a duel.
Director
A samurai comes to the aid of his uncle in a duel.
Writer
The Japanese equivalent of penny dreadfuls glorifying Jesse James, A Diary of Chuji’s Travels gives a unique gloss to the tale of Chuji Kunisada, the legendary bakuto (or gambler, the precursors to modern-day yakuza). One of the two remaining segments of Ito’s original four-hour trilogy, it depicts Chuji’s attempt to save the geisha Oshina, a rebellion against the rigid social structure of Edo Japan. With socialist overtones, it’s a passionate artifact of early Japanese film.
Director
The Japanese equivalent of penny dreadfuls glorifying Jesse James, A Diary of Chuji’s Travels gives a unique gloss to the tale of Chuji Kunisada, the legendary bakuto (or gambler, the precursors to modern-day yakuza). One of the two remaining segments of Ito’s original four-hour trilogy, it depicts Chuji’s attempt to save the geisha Oshina, a rebellion against the rigid social structure of Edo Japan. With socialist overtones, it’s a passionate artifact of early Japanese film.
Screenplay
Director
Writer
A Diary of Chuji's Travels is a silent Japanese jidaigeki made in 1927 starring Denjirō Ōkōchi and directed by Daisuke Itō. It was originally released in three parts, all of which were long thought to be lost until portions of the second part and much of the third part were discovered and restored in 1991. Since the film had once been voted in a 1959 Kinema Junpō poll as the best Japanese film of all time, its discovery was significant. At the time of its release, Itō was the leader of a new style of samurai films that featured outlaw heroes and fast-cut sword fighting scenes.
Director
A Diary of Chuji's Travels is a silent Japanese jidaigeki made in 1927 starring Denjirō Ōkōchi and directed by Daisuke Itō. It was originally released in three parts, all of which were long thought to be lost until portions of the second part and much of the third part were discovered and restored in 1991. Since the film had once been voted in a 1959 Kinema Junpō poll as the best Japanese film of all time, its discovery was significant. At the time of its release, Itō was the leader of a new style of samurai films that featured outlaw heroes and fast-cut sword fighting scenes.
Director
Directed by Daisuke Itō.
Director
The first of Chuji's Travels.
Screenplay
Set in the Edo period, the film deals with two brothers falling in love with the same girl. Sadly, only 12 minutes of footage survive.
Director
Set in the Edo period, the film deals with two brothers falling in love with the same girl. Sadly, only 12 minutes of footage survive.
Writer
Director
Writer
Screenplay
Writer
Screenplay
