This is Kanjûrô Arashi's first film with Nikkatsu after his independent production company went bankrupt (many of these independent companies went bankrupt shortly after the transition to sound). As he is mostly famous for his portrait of Kurama tengu (and on the other hand, he's the definitive actor for Kurama Tengu as well), Nikkatsu made another version of Kurama tengu, co-directed by Masahiro Makino & Sadatsugu Matsuda who are both sons of Shozo Makino. Scripted by Yoshitake Hisa, a jidaigeki specialist who later scripted several Toei All-Star Jidaigeki.
腕は確かだが、飲兵衛で喧嘩に明け暮れていた中山安兵衛。その安兵衛の苦手とする叔父の菅野六郎左衛門が、村上庄左衛門とのトラブルから、高田の馬場で果し合いをすることになってしまう。危急を知った安兵衛、一散に駈けつける。後の堀部安兵衛一世一代の剣陣の火ぶたは切られた！
Based on the old tale of Jiraiya, this 1937 version is essentially a revenge story with fantastic visuals.
A samurai is ordered by his lord to go to Edo and investigate the truth behind the rumor of a rebellion against him.
Gantaro Path
