Isao Yamagata

  • Masashige Narusawa – Yuki Fujin ezu AKA A Picture of Madame Yuki (1975)

    1971-1980ArthouseDramaJapanMasashige Narusawa

    Quote:
    Set against the dramatic backdrop of the tragic downfall of an old aristocratic family, it depicts the conflicts among three men revolving around the beautiful and eerily alluring Lady Yuki. This is a film adaptation of the novel of the same title by Seiichi Funahashi. The screenplay and direction were handled by Masashige Narusawa, while cinematography was done by Tōichirō Narushima. Although the film was shot and completed in 1968, Toei, then fully committed to yakuza films and ero-guro fare, found it difficult to distribute, and it languished unreleased with no premiere date in sight. It was eventually loaned out for theatrical release as a supporting feature to Nikkatsu’s song-driven mainstream film Erimo Misaki (1975), produced after the studio’s shift to Roman Porno. Commercially, however, it was a complete failure.Read More »

  • Kinji Fukasaku – Jakoman to Tetsu AKA Jakoman and Tetsu AKA One-eyed Captain and Tetsu [+Commentary] (1964)

    Drama1961-1970ActionJapanKinji Fukasaku

    Plot:
    In a village subsisting on its herring fishery, a one-eyed criminal named Jakoman terrorizes the inhabitants. One of them, the son of the head of one of the fish companies by the name of Tetsu, decides to overthrow Jakoman and his cohorts.

    (Remake of a 1949 movie of the same name directed by Senkichi Taniguchi written by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshirô Mifune)Read More »

  • Kinji Fukasaku – Jakoman to Tetsu aka One-eyed Captain and Tetsu (1964)

    Kinji Fukasaku1961-1970ActionAsianJapan

    Plot:
    In a village subsisting on its herring fishery, a one-eyed criminal named Jakoman terrorizes the inhabitants. One of them, the son of the head of one of the fish companies by the name of Tetsu, decides to overthrow Jakoman and his cohorts.

    (Remake of a 1949 movie of the same name directed by Senkichi Taniguchi written by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshirô Mifune)Read More »

  • Teinosuke Kinugasa – Jigokumon aka The Gate of Hell (1953)

    1951-1960AsianClassicsJapanTeinosuke Kinugasa

    Synopsis:
    In 1159, during an attempted coup, one of the court’s ladies in waiting disguises herself as the lord’s wife, and a loyal samurai conveys her from the city. This diversion allows the royal family to escape. After the coup fails, the samurai asks his lord to let him marry the woman as his reward. The lord grants the request and then discovers she is already married to one of the ruling family’s lieges. The samurai clings to his desire, importuning her to leave her husband, then challenging the husband to release her. Although the husband stays calm and she stays faithful, the samurai remains intemperate and stubborn, with tragic consequences.Read More »

Back to top button