Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965)
"Zatoichi sakate giri" (original title)

The blind masseur and swordsman, Zatoichi, searches for proof an imprisoned man's innocence.

Director:

Kazuo Mori

Writers:

Shozaburo Asai, Kan Shimosawa (story)

Stars:

Shintarô Katsu, Kanbi Fujiyama, Eiko Taki

Cast

Credited cast:
Shintarô Katsu	...	Zatoichi
Kanbi Fujiyama	...	Monk Hyakutaro
Eiko Taki	...	Yone
Masako Myojo	...	Chiyo
Kenjirô Ishiyama	...	Boss Jubei Araiso
Ryuzo Shimada	...	Yakuza boss
Koichi Mizuhara	...	Shimazo Kitase
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jun Katsumura	...	Jubei yakuza
Manabu Morita	...	Ronin enforcer
Sachiko Murase	...	Shimazo's wife

Storyline

Blind swordsman Zatoichi, jailed briefly, is implored by another prisoner to aid him in proving his innocence of a crime for which he is sentenced to death. Zatoichi is reluctant to get involved, because he knows how often such involvement has led to trouble in the past. But events conspire to thrust him repeatedly into involvement, and gradually he comes to believe in the man's innocence and determines to free him.

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Plot Keywords:

zatoichi | sequel | eleventh part | katana | sword fight | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

18 September 1965 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Zatoichi and the Doomed Man

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daiei Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows Zatoichi on the Road (1963)

User Reviews

Lots of swordplay

Equal measures of humour and action enliven this entry in the series. Zatoichi hooks up with a cowardly but greedy hustler who steals the blind swordsman's identity. Of course he eventually needs Zatoichi's assistance! There's a lengthy battle at the end of the film to please aficionados of the genre, as Zatoichi must rescue a wrongly condemned man from execution.