The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Kōzuke no suke. The ronin avenged their master’s honor after patiently waiting and planning for over a year to kill Kira. In turn, the ronin were themselves forced to commit seppuku for committing the crime of murder.Read More »
Yûzô Kayama
-
Hiroshi Inagaki – Chûshingura AKA The 47 Ronin (1962)
1961-1970AsianClassicsHiroshi InagakiJapan -
Hiromichi Horikawa – Sogeki AKA Sun Above, Death Below (1968)
1961-1970ActionCrimeHiromichi HorikawaJapanQuote:
Suspense drama about an assassin charged with breaking up a gold smuggling ring, and the contract subsequently purchased against him and his employer.Read More » -
Kiyoshi Nishimura – Bara no hyôteki AKA The Target of Roses (1972)
1971-1980ActionAsianJapanKiyoshi NishimuraBara no hyôteki (1972)
A gunslinger is hired to kill a news photographer. The young ward of the shot photographer discovers the set-up behind the killing – that a laboratory is being set up by a Nazi organization to capture and train talented youth and that the photographer was about to expose it.Read More » -
Shirô Moritani – Dankon AKA Bullet Wound (1969)
1961-1970ActionJapanShirô MoritaniThrillerThriller about a Japanese-American CIA agent (Kayama) in Japan.Read More »
-
Kihachi Okamoto – Dai-bosatsu tôge AKA The Sword of Doom (1966)
1961-1970ArthouseAsianJapanKihachi OkamotoQuote:
Through his unconscionable actions against others, a sociopath samurai builds a trail of vendettas that follow him closely.Read More » -
Kihachi Okamoto – Sengoku yaro AKA Warring Clans (1963)
1961-1970DramaEpicJapanKihachi OkamotoIn this Japanese samurai adventure, a brave, highly principled warrior resigns his post as a body guard to the head of a powerful clan after he learns that his employers have been smuggling arms to the enemy. The remaining samurai try in vain to coerce him back, but their efforts are thwarted by crooked warriors who launch an attack.
The sword fights are especially exciting.Read More » -
Akira Kurosawa – Akahige AKA Red Beard [+commentary] (1965)
Drama1961-1970Akira KurosawaClassicsJapanSynopsis:
In a charity hospital, a hard-bitten but honorable older doctor, Dr. Niide, takes a young intern under his guidance through the course of a number of difficult cases.Read More » -
Mikio Naruse – Midaregumo AKA Scattered Clouds AKA Two in the Shadow (1967)
1961-1970ClassicsDramaJapanMikio NaruseSynopsis:
A husband and wife’s love for each other and plans for the future are shattered when the man dies in a car accident. Misery is compounded when the man’s parents disinherit his now widow and their former daughter-in-law. In the meanwhile, the chauffeur who accidentally killed a man is racked with guilt. In the melee, the driver and the widow begin to develop feelings for another.Read More »