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Nobuo Nakagawa

Nobuo Nakagawa

Directing

Biography

Nobuo Nakagawa (中川 信夫, Nakagawa Nobuo, April 18, 1905 – June 17, 1984) was a Japanese film director, most famous for the stylized, folk tale-influenced horror films he made in the 1950s and 1960s. Born in Kyoto, Nakagawa was early on influenced by proletarian literature and wrote amateur film reviews for the Kinema Junpō film magazine. He joined Makino Film Productions in 1929 as an assistant director and worked under Masahiro Makino. When that studio went bankrupt in 1932, he switched to Utaemon Ichikawa's production company and made his debut as a director in 1934 with Yumiya Hachiman Ken. He later moved to Toho, where he made comedies starring Enoken and even documentaries during the war. It was at Shintoho after the war that he became known for his cinematic adaptations of Japanese Kaidan, especially his masterful version of Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan in 1959. To Western audiences, his most famous film is Jigoku (1960), which he also co-wrote. The film was released on DVD by the Criterion Collection in 2006. He also filmed many Kaidan for television. His last film was 1982's Kaidan: Ikiteiru Koheiji.

Known For

Ultraman Leo
7.8

After being brutally maimed by evil aliens, Dan Moroboshi (Ultra Seven) takes under his wing a fierce young Ultra-like being from L-77, and christens him "Ultraman Leo," to continue his mission to defend the Earth.

Ultraman Leo

1974
Playgirl
N/A

Playgirl is a Japanese television action/drama series which ran from 1969 to 1976 over a total of 276 episodes. It was conceived in the Spy-Fi genre.

Playgirl

1969
Japanese Masterpiece Ghost Story Theatre
N/A

«Japanese Masterpiece Ghost Story Theatre» - is a 13-episode series based on classic Japanese ghost stories.

Japanese Masterpiece Ghost Story Theatre

1979
The Vampire Moth
4.7

The story of a professional nude model stalked by a bizarre, unknown man wearing a hideous mask.

The Vampire Moth

1956
Jigoku
6.4

A group of sinners involved in interconnected tales of murder, revenge, deceit and adultery all meet at the Gates of Hell.

Jigoku

1960
The Ghost of Yotsuya
6.5

This horror tale adapts the Japanese legend which tells of a man who faces the consequences of betraying his wife in order to acquire wealth and power.

The Ghost of Yotsuya

1959
The Phantom Goblin
6.0

An injured Edo official is rescued by a vassal whose appearance is exactly like himself, and swears to sweep out the criminals from the town on his behalf.

The Phantom Goblin

1962
The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku
N/A

A story of an orphan boy who wanted the love of parents so badly, another orphan sincerely pitied him to the point he gives his secret birthright as an illegitimate son to a Shogun as a "gift of hope" to the sad boy. As the orphan boy grew up, his loving heart became bitter and he saw the opportunity to take advantage of this birthright with the help of a man who wanted to use this orphan's desire to be loved, for seizing power in the shogunate by using the imposter. Many obstacles to hurdle along the way of deception, however, will they succeed or will he be exposed?

The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku

1961
Snake Woman's Curse
6.0

An old man dies of heartbreak when a cruel landlord is about to repossess his land. The old man haunts the landlord from the grave. Since the man died in debt, his wife and daughter are indentured servants and are forced to work in the landlord's factory.

Snake Woman's Curse

1968
Ghost in the Regiment
8.0

Desiring another officer’s new wife, a military police lieutenant fabricates evidence of treason that consigns the innocent man to torture and a firing squad. The lieutenant rapes the wife, but is haunted by bad dreams which after he is assigned to a battalion with the victim’s brother.

Ghost in the Regiment

1958
No image
7.0

1955 Toho adaptation of Natsume's novel.

Stray Sheep

1955
Black Cat Mansion
6.5

The descendant of the servant of a cruel and vicious samurai returns to the town where she was born, only to find that a cat who is possessed by the spirits of those murdered by the samurai is trying to kill her.

Black Cat Mansion

1958
Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki
8.0

Another adaptation of Tange Sazen.

Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki

1939
Quick-draw Okatsu
6.2

This film focuses on Okatsu; the adopted daughter of a master swordsman. She is a master with a sword herself and her talents far overshadow that of her brother, and real child of the man who adopted her. Her brother unfortunately has a gambling habit, and it plunges the family into trouble when he loses a lot of money in a crooked dice game. After releasing he is unable to pay the debt he owes; the blame is shouldered by the father, who is killed, leading Okatsu on a path of revenge.

Quick-draw Okatsu

1969
No image
7.0

Japanese mystery thriller.

Late Night Confession

1949
No image
N/A

1941 Toho adaptation of Natsume's novel.

The Poppy

1941
Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves
N/A

After defeat in the Battle of Skigahara, Yukimura Sanada and his Ten Braves scatter across the country to spy in order to be prepared for the final battle at Osaka Castle, trying to bring an end to the fighting by revealing the secret will of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, if they can get their hands on it!

Storming Osaka Castle: The Sanada Ten Braves

1957
Showdown at Lightning Pass
10.0

A story about a spear master’s spiritual and martial discipline.

Showdown at Lightning Pass

1962
The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
6.2

Ryutaro is a spy employed by the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, who is the target of assassination attempts that aim to hand power over to his younger brother Tadanaga.

The Ceiling at Utsunomiya

1956
No image
9.0

Japanese movie

Itahachi shima

1938