Dai-bosatsu tôge (1966)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Kihachi Okamoto

Writers:

Shinobu Hashimoto (writer)
Kaizan Nakazato (novel)

Release Date:

1 July 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

Ryunosuke is a sociopathic samurai without compassion or scruples. When he is scheduled for an exhibition match at his fencing school...

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | Playing Footsie | Samurai Warrior | Violence | Playing Footsie While In Bed

Cast

Tatsuya Nakadai	...	Ryunosuke Tsukue
Yuzo Kayama	...	Hyoma Utsuki
Michiyo Aratama	...	Ohama
Yôko Naito	...	Omatsu
Tadao Nakamaru	...	Isamu Kondo
Kei Sato	...	Kamo Serizawa
Kô Nishimura	...	Shichibei, Omatsu's 'uncle'
Ichirô Nakaya	...	Bunnojo Utsuki
Kunie Tanaka	...	Senkichi
Takamaru Sasaki	...	Ishinsai Nakamura
Ryosuke Kagawa	...	Dansho Tsukue
Kamatari Fujiwara	...	Omatsu's grandfather
Eisei Amamoto		(as Hideyo Amamoto)
Akio Miyabe	...	Toshizo Ogata
Yasuzo Ogawa	...	Yohachi

Also Known As:

Daibosatsu Pass (literal English title)
Le sabre du mal (Japan)
The Sword of Doom (USA)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:16 | Singapore:NC-16

Company:

Takarazuka Eiga Company Ltd.

Trivia:

The abrupt ending of the film is due to the fact that it was originally intended to be the first part in a trilogy of films based on a lengthy Japanese novel. Nakazato Kaizan's 41 volume historical novel focused on the Edo period in Japanese history when the shogunate collapsed and a new government arose that revolved around the Emperor. It was the longest novel in Japan - encompassing 1533 chapters and over 5 and a half million Japanese characters - until the publication of Sohachi Yamaoka's serialized novel "Tokugawa Ieyasu", which is reportedly the longest novel in any language.

Quotes:

Toranosuke Shimada: The sword is the soul. Study the soul to know the sword. Evil mind, evil sword.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Designing 'Blade' (1998) (V)

One of the best movies ever in my opinion

It captures the feel of Feudal Japan very well. Samurai of that period were so involved with their sword style and technique that it seeped into there personality and very soul. Most upheld strict conduct in their technique. This story is about a man whose style is so devious and frankly brutal that it turns him into a mirror image of his technique. Think Lord of the Rings and Frodo's battle with the ring or Star Wars and the battle betweeen Light and Dark forces. It is much better than Star Wars and is just as deep and creepy as Lord of the Rings. Nakadai' acting is flawless and he draws you right into the story. Toshiro Mifune also has a few good parts and a great battle scene. I have let many friends watch this movie (almost none of which had ever watched a subtitled movie) and every one of them Loved it. It's also one of those movies that draws you you in even more with repeated viewings, as you catch a lot of little things that are integral with the story. BUY IT and watch repeatedly!