Mr. Thank You (1936)

Japanese film about a friendly bus driver and his passengers over the duration of one journey through the mountains to the nearest train station.

Director:

Hiroshi Shimizu

Writers:

Yasunari Kawabata (novel), Hiroshi Shimizu (screenplay)

Stars:

Ken Uehara, Ryuji Ishiyama, Einosuke Naka

Cast

Credited cast:
Ken Uehara	...	Arigatô-san
Ryuji Ishiyama	...	Gentleman with beard
Einosuke Naka	...	Peddler
Michiko Kuwano
Mayumi Tsukiji
Kaoru Futaba
Reikichi Kawamura	...	Villager from Tokyo
Setsuko Shinobu
Kazuji Sakai	...	Peddler
Nagamasa Yamada	...	Peddler
Kanji Kawahara
Kiyoshi Aono	...	Old countryman
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Shôsuke Agata	...	Man on wake
Shôtarô Fujimatsu	...	Primary school student
Masao Hayama	...	Primary school student

Storyline

Mr. Thank You is the kindly young driver of a local bus traveling from poverty stricken coastal villages, over the mountains, to the town. He thanks everybody when they let his bus pass on the narrow road. Among the passengers is a worldly young woman, who flirts with the driver while trying to put the villagers in their place. There is also an embarrassed mother who is taking her virginal daughter to the train station to be sent to Tokyo, presumably to be sold.

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Plot Keywords:

moustache | politeness | hat | moustached man | mustache | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

27 February 1936 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Mr. Thank You

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shochiku Ofuna

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Arigato!

Ken Uehara is Mr. Thank You, the young bus driver on the route from a small fishing village to Tokyo. He carries messages for the people on foot, buys them records in the city, shares their gossip, and when he comes across people on the road, he honks his horn, and greets them with a cheerful "Arigato."

Hiroshi Shimizu's early talkie film gives us a tour from a small fishing village and the long road that runs between the mountains and the sea. He also gives us glimpses into the people: the girl being taken into Tokyo by her mother to be sold to a brothel; the pompous insurance salesman; the cynical woman who cadges cigarettes from him, shares her liquor with her fellow passengers -- except the insurance salesman, and the people on the road, who cannot afford his bus, but know he is a friend. It's a fine little portrait of country life, with a village strung out the length of the road, where everyone knows everyone else's business, and everyone is kind to each other -- except those people in the roadster who keep passing the bus with never a thank you.