Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
"Sanshô dayû" (original title)

In mediaeval Japan a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.

Director:

Kenji Mizoguchi

Writers:

Ogai Mori (story), Fuji Yahiro,

Stars:

Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyôko Kagawa

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kinuyo Tanaka	...	Tamaki
Yoshiaki Hanayagi	...	Zushiô
Kyôko Kagawa	...	Anju
Eitarô Shindô	...	Sanshô dayû
Akitake Kôno	...	Taro
Masao Shimizu	...	Masauji Taira
Ken Mitsuda	...	Prime Minister Fujiwara
Kazukimi Okuni	...	Norimura
Yôko Kosono	...	Kohagi
Kimiko Tachibana	...	Namiji
Ichirô Sugai	...	Minister of Justice
Teruko Ômi	...	Nakagimi
Masahiko Kato	...	Young Zushio
Keiko Enami	...	Young Anju
Bontarô Akemi	...	Kichiji

Storyline

In mediaeval Japan a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.

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Plot Keywords:

japan | governor | exile | courtesan | abduction | 

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Taglines:

A film of unparalleled beauty by the great Japanese Master Kenji Mizoguchi

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Legend of Bailiff Sansho

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daiei Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'Kenji Mizoguchi' initially intended to center the film around Sansho, the Slavelord. However, the film ended up with the sad story of Zushio and Anju as its narrative, dramatic center.

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Quotes

Zushiô: [quoting his father] "Without mercy, man is not a human being."

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Connections

Version of The Littlest Warrior (1961)

User Reviews

One of the Best Films of All Time? Sure.

Many would not even rank "Sansho the Bailiff" among Mizoguchi's better works, let alone cite it as one of the greatest films of all time. I have not seen every film ever made nor every film Mizoguchi ever made but I find it hard to imagine that there are many better films than this or that Mizoguchi made one of them. "Sisters of Gion" comes close, but even that masterpiece cannot match the transcendental glories of "Sansho." It is sheer perfection, utilizing the elements of melodrama that Mizoguchi so excelled at (without overdoing it as he sometimes did) against the backdrop of a haunting, almost mythic landscape. Indeed, the film has the power of myth, even more so than "Ugetsu" (which perhaps tried just a little too hard for that mythic quality) and stands today - almost 50 years after it was made - as a film that is almost shocking in its sublime glories. Mizoguchi was without a doubt one of the giants of cinema and this film is breathtaking.