Samurai Rebellion (1967) Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu (original title)

Director:

Masaki Kobayashi

Writers:

Shinobu Hashimoto
Yasuhiko Takiguchi (novel)

Release Date:

December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back.

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | Katana Sword | Jidai Geki | Based On Novel

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

Toshirô Mifune	...	Isaburo Sasahara
Yôko Tsukasa	...	Ichi Sasahara
Gô Katô	...	Yogoro Sasahara
Tatsuyoshi Ehara	...	Bunzo Sasahara
Etsuko Ichihara	...	Kiku
Isao Yamagata	...	Shobei Tsuchiya
Tatsuya Nakadai	...	Tatewaki Asano
Shigeru Kôyama	...	Geki Takahashi
Michiko Otsuka	...	Suga Sasahara
Tatsuo Matsumura	...	Lord Masakata Matsudaira
Masao Mishima	...	Sanzaemon Yanase
Jun Hamamura	...	Hyoemon Shiomi
Emi Yamada	...	Shiomi's wife
Takamaru Sasaki	...	Kenmotsu Sasahara
Hideo Fukuhara	...	Sahei
Noriko Kawajiri	...	Nui
Tetsuko Kobayashi	...	Otama
Hisano Yamaoka	...	Sannojo Kasai's mother
Tomoko Hito	...	Yoshino
Yoshirô Aoki	...	Takazo Komiya

Directed by
Masaki Kobayashi

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Shinobu Hashimoto
Yasuhiko Takiguchi		novel "Hairyozuma Shimatsu"

Produced by
Toshirô Mifune	....	producer
Tomoyuki Tanaka	....	producer

Original Music by
Tôru Takemitsu

Cinematography by
Kazuo Yamada

Film Editing by
Hisashi Sagara

Production Design by
Yoshirô Muraki

Production Management
Yasuyoshi Tajitsu	....	executive in charge of production

Sound Department
Shigenosuke Okuyama	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Yasuo Konishi	....	lighting technician

Production Companies

• Mifune Productions Co. Ltd.
• Toho Company

Distributors

• Home Vision Cinema (USA) (VHS)
• Dianafilmi (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Another World Entertainment (2008) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Njutafilms (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Toho Company (1967) (USA) (subtitled)

Also Known As:

"Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu" - Japan (original title)

Runtime:

128 min | 121 min (cut version)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Singapore:PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Mifune Productions Co. Ltd.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Music for the Movies: Tôru Takemitsu (1994)

One of the greatest films ever

If there is one thing to be said about this film, it is excellent in every detail - story, direction, cinematography, music, action, I could go on and on. There are few film makers who can turn a simple tale of feudal injustice into such a moving drama.

As the movie progresses, Toshiro Mifune's character slowly transforms into an epic hero - for his sense of honour and his love for his Son for which he is ready to defy his own honour-bound Samurai's oath, to rebel against the very world he lives in. The heroism and integrity of his sacrifice are presented in exquisite detail with poignant dialogue (even in subtitles). This in itself is an amazing achievement when the compared to the trend nowadays is to try to impress the viewer with visual trickery or mind-numbing fight sequences with excessive violence.

I truly appreciate Masaki Kobayashi for the respect he shows to his viewer's intelligence, for intelligently presenting the true heroism of a human standing up against impossible odds.As an exercise, you may compare this movie with the over-budgeted disaster of a Hollywood movie called "The Last Samurai" to know what I am talking about. With an excellent story and great characters with potential for true heroism, "The Last Samurai" is one of the dumbest movies ever made.

This is also no dumb "You killed my master so I will kill you" Hong Kong movie or a "Lone Wolf" movie with it's absurd and senseless blood-spilling. All of you Action movie fans, this is also not a beat-each-other-to-pulp or chop-you-up-like-a-fish movie.

The fight sequences are excellently executed and are almost the best that I have seen so far (The fight sequences in Harakiri must be THE BEST ever).The character of Tatsuya Nakadai is interesting as well in that it is not really clear what his true intentions are - he seems torn between his selfish desire to better Mifune's character in a duel bound up with his loyalty to his clan against his honour as a friend. Warning: So watch it if you enjoy an excellently told social drama and you will see what makes a masterly piece of art.