The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum

Original title: Zangiku monogatari

19391939
Not RatedNot Rated
2h 28min

Zangiku monogatari (1939)

The adopted son of a legendary actor, and an aspiring star himself, turns to his infant brother's wet nurse for support and affection - only for her to give up everything for her beloved's g... Read allThe adopted son of a legendary actor, and an aspiring star himself, turns to his infant brother's wet nurse for support and affection - only for her to give up everything for her beloved's glory.The adopted son of a legendary actor, and an aspiring star himself, turns to his infant brother's wet nurse for support and affection - only for her to give up everything for her beloved's glory.

Director
- Kenji Mizoguchi
Writers
- Matsutarô Kawaguchi(screenplay)
- Shôfû Muramatsu(author: novel)
- Yoshikata Yoda(screenplay)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination

Yoneko Mogami in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Kakuko Mori and Yôko Umemura in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Shôtarô Hanayagi and Kakuko Mori in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Shôtarô Hanayagi in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Shôtarô Hanayagi, Kakuko Mori, and Benkei Shiganoya in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Yoneko Mogami and Kakuko Mori in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Shôtarô Hanayagi and Kôkichi Takada in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Kakuko Mori in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Tokusaburo Arashi and Shôtarô Hanayagi in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Shôtarô Hanayagi, Kakuko Mori, and Kôkichi Takada in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Shôtarô Hanayagi

Kikunosuke Onoueas Kikunosuke Onoue

Kôkichi Takada

Fukusuke Nakamuraas Fukusuke Nakamura

Ryôtarô Kawanami

Eiju Dayuas Eiju Dayu

Kinnosuke Takamatsu

Matsusuke Onoueas Matsusuke Onoue

Jun'nosuke Hayama

Kanya Moritaas Kanya Morita

Tamizô Onoueas Tamizô Onoue

Guest in waiting roomas Guest in waiting room

Shintomi greenroom manageras Shintomi greenroom manager

Shintomi's onnagataas Shintomi's onnagata

Actoras Actor

Manager of the travelling companyas Manager of the travelling company

Greenroom manager of the travelling companyas Greenroom manager of the travelling company

Minpei Tomimoto

Guest in waiting roomas Guest in waiting room

Travelling actoras Travelling actor

Eiryû, a geishaas Eiryû, a geisha

Onaka, a geishaas Onaka, a geisha

Fujiko Shirakawa

Okiku, geishaas Okiku, geisha

Otsuru, Genshun's daughteras Otsuru, Genshun's daughter

Director
- Kenji Mizoguchi
Writers
- Matsutarô Kawaguchi(screenplay)
- Shôfû Muramatsu(author: novel)
- Yoshikata Yoda(screenplay)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

Sisters of the Gion

7.5

Sisters of the Gion

A Story from Chikamatsu

8.1

A Story from Chikamatsu

Osaka Elegy

7.2

The Life of Oharu

8.1

The Life of Oharu

Street of Shame

7.8

Street of Shame

Women of the Night

7.2

Women of the Night

Sansho the Bailiff

8.4

Sansho the Bailiff

Utamaro and His Five Women

7.1

Utamaro and His Five Women

A Geisha

7.6

Ugetsu

8.2

Miss Oyu

7.5

Princess Yang Kwei-fei

7.2

Princess Yang Kwei-fei

In Tokyo in 1888, Kikunosuke Onoue, the adoptive son of an important actor, discovers that he is praised for his acting only because he is his father's heir, and that the troupe complains how bad he is behind his back. The only person to talk to him honestly about his acting is Otoku, the wet-nurse of his adoptive father's child. She is fired by the family, and Kikunosuke is forbidden to see her, because of the gossip a relationship with a servant would cause. Kikunosuke falls in love with Otoku, and leaves home to try to make a living on his own merits outside Tokyo. He is eventually joined by Otoku, who encourages him to become a famous actor to regain the recognition of his family. —Will Gilbert

1880s year 1885 19th century year 1888 kanto region 36 more

Genres
- Drama
- Romance
Certificate
- Not Rated
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
This film is said by critics and scholars to epitomize the "one scene = one long shot" aesthetic of director Kenji Mizoguchi. In fact, there are many scenes that have no internal cuts, and the entire film contains almost no close-ups.

Connections
Referenced in Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (1975)

Top review

6/10

Interesting but hardly great - Japan "Gone with the Wind"

I've read some very exciting comments about this picture and in the middle of the movie I realized how I'm disappointed a bit. Keep your expectations low, lads. It's not Mizoguchi's screenplay like "Sisters of Gion", this movie based on a book. Classic story, very predictable, with straightforward acting, especially lead woman with tears and tempted voice all the time.

Although a beautiful visual look, I couldn't connect myself with the movie. Unlike to "Naniwa ereji" (Osaka Elegy, 1936) and "Gion no shimai" (Sisters of the Gion, 1936), which are also very simple, but truthful and realistic, with sudden thought provocative endings. I prefer and recommend this movies ahead of "Zangiku monogatari".

helpful•9

25

Od1n
Oct 23, 2009

Release date
- January 15, 1979 (United States)
Country of origin
- Japan
Language
- Japanese
Also known as
- The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums
Production company
- Shochiku
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Gross worldwide
- $6,125

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 2h 28min
Color
- Black and White
Sound mix
- Mono
Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1

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Zangiku monogatari (1939)

Top Gap

By what name was Zangiku monogatari (1939) officially released in Canada in English?

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