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

Masauji Taira: [Speaking to his son Zushio on the verge of being exiled and separated from his family] Zushio, I wonder if you'll become a stubborn man like me. You may be too young to understand, but hear me out anyway. Without mercy, man is like a beast. Even if you are hard on yourself, be merciful to others. Men are created equal. Everyone is entitled to their happiness.

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Connections

Referenced in Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (1975)

User Reviews

Delicate woodcut prints come to life

"Sansho the Bailiff" (Japanese, 1954): Kenji Mizoguchi made an epic film from what was (apparently) a centuries-old Japanese morality tale. We watch a well-to-do family slowly disintegrate - not from events they cause, but those out of their control. How they each react, how they deal with the passing years and events, and how they find solutions (if any) are powerful, emotional, lessons in life. Can a half-century old Japanese film be useful to a contemporary American audience? Of course it can. Human issues of love, devotion, honor, greed, lust, hate, violence, sadness, and revenge are, if anything, in further need of consideration and dealing. To enhance these thoughts, the musical scoring is superb (I love classical Japanese music), the photography is in gorgeous black/gray/white with artful composing, the pacing is patient and more explanatory than many Japanese films (perhaps Mizoguchi had foreign audiences in mind – which I appreciate!), and I often felt like I was watching delicate woodcut prints come to life.