Musical about the “Blue Star,” a struggling jazz band led by pianist Takarada and trumpet player Takashima and their love interests. Done very much in the style of a Fox musical of the same 1940s, complete with an elaborate “History of Jazz” finale.Read More »
The memorable directorial debut of Kihachi Okamoto, who later made “Japan’s Longest Day” and “The Battle of Okinawa.” The main character, Yasuko, is a theater student who wants to avoid ending up in a loveless marriage like her brother and sister. The film rhythmically depicts the twists and turns of how Yasuko pursues her dream of being in a love marriage as her father attempts to marry her to a husband of his own choosing. The modernity of the casts’ outfits also shines. The film also amply demonstrates Okamoto’s signature fast cutting speed and good sense of tempo.Read More »
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Western audiences associate Japanese popular cinema with monster movies and period dramas such as samurai films but, as with most national cinemas, comedies and musicals were industry mainstays. Very popular with domestic audiences, they were generally considered not to travel well. Janken Musume (Janken Girls, also known as So Young, So Bright) is a good 1950s example.Read More »