江戸時代史の謎である甲府宰相怪死事件の真相をえぐる、スリルと興奮に満ちたサスペンス時代劇。四代将軍・家綱の世、大老・酒井忠清は甲府宰相・綱重を五代将軍に推すことによって政道をわがものにしようと企んでいた。この陰謀を破壊せんと軍学者・山鹿素行の下に結束した、十人の暗殺者の凄絶な争いを描く。
Master swordsman, Tsukue Ryunosuke is confronted by the families of his victims. Will justice be served for the lost innocent lives? The conclusion of the famed Jidaigeki series is an amazing film, with a completely different perspective on the story from the later versions. While the international audience is more familiar with the “Sword of Doom” and “Satan’s Sword” versions of Daibosatsu Toge (The Great Bodhisattva Pass), the “Souls in the Moonlight” trilogy casts an entirely different light on Ryunosuke and his motives. Can this brutal killer be brought to justice, or is living his life as a blind wanderer a more terrible fate? His sword skills have not diminished, nor has his desire to kill!
いわゆる「国策映画」のひとつではあるが、ドキュメンタリータッチで制作された本作は、派手な戦闘場面もなく、部隊がひたすら移動する様を淡々と描いている。現在見ることができるのは、GHQに接収され後に返還されたものだが、オリジナルに比べ30分近く欠落している。第二分隊長の玉井伍長は十三名の部下とともに、輸送船に乗り込み上陸開始の時を待っていた。部下たちは緊張のあまり、上陸開始まで眠ることができずにいた。やがて輸送船が上陸、兵士たちは船を下りた。しかしその瞬間、敵の一掃射撃を受けてしまう。
An early example of the Japanese war film, closer to documentary realism than the kind of propaganda produced at the height of the Pacific War. "A company commander calls on five men. They are to reconnoiter, but on their way they are attacked. Only four of them return. While his companions mourn the fifth straggles back. Soon after comes the order to move out for a general attack. The men know that this time there will be no returning." (Donald Richie)
A 1937 Japanese language film directed by Tomu Uchida, starring Ryo Akaboshi, Mitsuru Date and Hisao Furutani.
