Yuzuru Kume
Acting
Biography
Yuzuru Kume (1899 - 1945) was a prolific Japanese actor from the silent and early sound eras. He began his career on stage as a child actor and filmed his first movie in 1922. He died of illness in 1945.
Known For
In the early 18th-century, Lord Takumi-no-kami Asano, feuding with Lord Kira, tries to kill his opponent in the corridors of the Shogun's palace. The Shogun sentences Asano to seppuku and deprives the palace and lands from his clan, but does not punish Kira. Asano's vassals leave the land and his samurais become ronin and want to seek revenge against the Lord's dishonour. But their leader Kuranosuke Oishi seeks to restore the Asano clan with his brother Daigaku Asano. One year later, the Shogun refuses, and Oishi and 46 rōnin are out for revenge.
The 47 Ronin
No description available.
Oichi no kata
The tale of Nakayama Yasubei’s duel is famous, even if he in reality probably did not cut down 18 opponents. The story has been related in film, rakugo, kodan and on stage many times, in part because Nakayama later joined the famous 47 Ronin (Chushingura) as Horibe Yasubei. But Makino and Inagaki’s version gives no hint of this more serious future, playing up the thrills and the comedy with Bando’s bravura performance. The multiple pans of Yasubei running to the duel are an exemplar of the experimental flourishes of 1930s Japanese cinema and the final duel, performed virtually like a dance number, is a marker of Makino’s love of rhythm and one of the best sword fights in Japanese film history. The film was originally released under the title Chikemuri Takadanoba (Bloody Takadanobaba) with a length of 57 minutes, but suffered some cuts and a title change when it was re-released in 1952.
Blood Spilled at Takadanobaba
No description available.
Zuku ôoka seidan mazo kaiketsu-hen
Prewar jidaigeki starring Denjiro Okochi
Kuriyama Daizen
Martial Arts Encyclopedia
Martial Arts Encyclopedia
Japanese historical film. Considered Lost.
Kunisada Chūji
Yaji and Kita: Yasuda's Rescue is a 1927 black and white Japanese silent film directed by Tomiyasu Ikeda.[1] This comedy film showcases the comic talent of Denjiro Okochi, which contrasts markedly with his heroic performance in Oatsurae Jirokichi Koshi. The humorous exchanges with Goro Kawabe, his senior at Nikkatsu, can be priceless, with the expressions and movements of the two goofy characters making for pure, hilarious slapstick comedy. A 15-minute remnant of the film was released on DVD by Digital Meme with benshi accompaniment by Midori Sawato and Ryubi Kato.
Yaji and Kita: Yasuda's Rescue
No description available.
Mito Kōmon
Yaji and Kita: The Battle of Toba Fushimi is a 1928 Japanese film directed by Tomiyasu Ikeda.[1] This comedy film showcases the acting talent of Denjirō Ōkōchi and acts as a complementary film to Yaji and Kita: Yasuda's Rescue, which is part of the Yaji and Kita series. An 8-minute remnant of the film was released on DVD by Digital Meme with a benshi accompaniment by Midori Sawato. The version in the National Film Center is 23 minutes long.
Yaji and Kita: The Battle of Toba Fushimi
No description available.
Suronin Chuya
A 1941 Japanese film directed by Shinzo Yoshida.
Rashōmon
A story about Ômura Masujirô
Masujiro Omura
Set in the Edo period, the film deals with two brothers falling in love with the same girl. Sadly, only 12 minutes of footage survive.
An Unforgettable Grudge
Final installment of the Okochi / Arai / Yamanaka Mito Komon series and just as good as the others (a good deal longer, as well). Again, this film like the other two is similar in tone and spirit to the Yamanaka Tange Sazen film and would appeal to fans of that film.
Mito Komon - The Bloody Swords
Japanese film from 1924.
A Woman from the Genroku Era
Adaptation of the novel by Osaragi Jirō. Again scripted by the legendary Yamanaka Sadao
Mito Komon - The Secret Letter
No description available.
Gerou
A period drama about samurai who survived a loss in battle. An early jidaegeki by Hiroshi Shimizu.
Fallen Samurai
Japanese film from 1925.