Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
(1955)
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Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
(1955)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Toshirô Mifune | ... | ||
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Koji Tsuruta | ... | |
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Mariko Okada | ... | |
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Kaoru Yachigusa | ... | |
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Michiyo Kogure | ... |
Dayu Yoshino
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Mitsuko Mito | ... |
Oko, Akemi's mother
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Akihiko Hirata | ... | |
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Daisuke Katô | ... | |
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Kuroemon Onoe | ... |
Priest Takuan
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Sachio Sakai | ... | |
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Yû Fujiki | ... |
Denshichiro Yoshioka
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Machiko Kitagawa | ... |
Kogure
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Eiko Miyoshi | ... |
Osugi, Matahachi's mother
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Eijirô Tôno | ... | |
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Kenjin Iida | ... | |
After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan's greatest Samurai, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the region's finest school for Kendo. To prove his valor and skill, he walks deliberately into ambushes set up by the school's followers. While Otsu waits, Akemi also seeks him, expressing her desires directly. Meanwhile, Takezo is observed by Sasaki Kojiro, a brilliant young fighter, confident he can dethrone Takezo. After leaving Kyoto in triumph, Takezo declares his love for Otsu, but in a way that dishonors her and shames him. Once again, he leaves alone. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
My view of this early Musashi trilogy is strongly coloured by the far-superior 1960's series of five. The first in this 1950's trilogy was a shattering disappointment. With Japan's greatest actor playing one of Japan's greatest folk heroes, how could you miss ? Well, the first one was flat. The pace was slow, and Mifune's exploding energy was kept well under control. Shame ! This second instalment corrected many of the problems of the first. The action is staged much better (with one caveat : see below), Mifune gets to be ferocious, as well as express a range of other emotions, including something close to love. The story is a bit disorienting, as it shows events in a different order to the 1960s series, but it still works well. The women throw themselves at our hero at a much faster rate, which gets things moving along nicely.
Nevertheless, I have marked down this movie significantly for the incredible stupidity of setting most of the action scenes in the dark. Director, what were you thinking ?! Instead of having the duels at six in the morning, move them to seven or use a moonlit night. Hell, what a waste.