Edogawa Ranpo ryôki-kan: Yaneura no sanposha (1976)

The landlord of a boarding house in 1923 Tokyo, is keen on spying on the bizarre close encounters taking place beneath his roof. One day he sees a prostitute killing a customer, and decides he's found his soulmate.

Director:

Noboru Tanaka

Writers:

Rampo Edogawa (short story "Yaneura no sanposha"), Akio Ido (screenplay)

Stars:

Junko Miyashita, Renji Ishibashi, Hiroshi Chô

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Junko Miyashita	...	Minako Sayanomiya
Renji Ishibashi	...	Saburo Gouda
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hiroshi Chô	...	Koichiro Sayanomiya
Kyoichi Mizuki	...	Pharmacist
Aoi Nakajima	...	Prostitute
Toshihiko Oda	...	Hiruta
Kazuko Tajima	...	Ginko
Tokuko Watanabe	...	Miyuki Tomita
Yasuji Yashiro	...	Endo
Shiro Yumemura	...	Pierrot

Storyline

Based on a story by well-praised Japanese writer Edogawa Rampo. In Tokyo, 1923, Saburo Gouda is exploring secrets of his fellow-occupants of an apartment building. All from above, using spy-holes bored in ceilings of his neighbors rooms. After he sees a meeting between aristocratic (and bored) Lady Minako and a clown, he realizes, that pursuit of Minako's blooming dark realm of senses is drawing themselves by the corruption they both experience and cause.

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Plot Keywords:

landlord | prostitute | spying | based on short story | artist | 

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

12 June 1976 (Japan)

Also Known As:

The Stroller in the Attic

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nikkatsu

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Yaneura no sanposha (2007)

User Reviews

but when killing joins sex on the menu and the watcher joins the watched

Decidedly odd, this 1923 set movie begins slowly with the man of the title peering from his enclosed upper space at those approaching from without and those dwelling below. At first this looks like being an unusual but fairly predictable 'pink' but when killing joins sex on the menu and the watcher joins the watched this turns a little more hard edged. Slightly confusing at the start, with a lot of black screen and changing faces but soon we are down to the main protagonists and there is little room for ambiguity. The dramatic ending gives explanation for the 1923 setting and concludes what in the end is an erotic and powerful exploration of human nature's darker side. Not without faults but well worth a watch.