The 47 Ronin (1941)

In 1701, Lord Takuminokami Asano has a feud with Lord Kira and he tries to kill Kira in the corridors of the Shogun's palace. The Shogun sentences Lord Asano to commit suppuku and deprives ... See full summary »

Director:

Kenji Mizoguchi

Writers:

Kenichiro Hara (screenplay), Seika Mayama (play)

Stars:

Chôjûrô Kawarasaki, Yoshizaburo Arashi, Utaemon Ichikawa

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chôjûrô Kawarasaki	...	Kuranosuke Ooishi
Kan'emon Nakamura	...	Sukeimon Tomimori
Kunitarô Kawarazaki	...	Jurôzaemon Isogai
Yoshizaburo Arashi	...	Lord Takuminokami Asano
Chôemon Bandô	...	Sôzaemon Hara
Sukezô Sukedakaya	...	Chûemon Yoshida
Kikunojo Segawa	...	Gengo Ootaka
Shotaro Ichikawa	...	Yahei Horibe
Enji Ichikawa	...	Tadashichi Takebayashi
Kikunosuke Ichikawa	...	Gengoemon Kataoka
Shinzô Yamazaki	...	Seimon Ooishi
Senshô Ichikawa	...	Matsunosuke Ooishi (as Sensho Ichikawa)
Shoji Ichikawa	...	Magoemon Seo
Iwagoro Ichikawa	...	Fujiemon Hayamizu
Shinzaburo Ichikawa	...	Matanosuke Ushioda

Storyline

In 1701, Lord Takuminokami Asano has a feud with Lord Kira and he tries to kill Kira in the corridors of the Shogun's palace. The Shogun sentences Lord Asano to commit suppuku and deprives the palace and lands from his clan, but does not punish Lord Kira. Lord Asano's vassals leave the land and his samurais become ronin and want to seek revenge against the dishonor of their Lord. But their leader Kuranosuke Oishi asks the Shogun to restore the Asano clan with his brother Daigaku Asano. One year later, the Shogun refuses his request and Oishi and forty-six ronin revenge their Lord.

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Plot Keywords:

ronin | samurai | dishonor | corruption | revenge | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

March 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

The 47 Ronin: Parts 1 and 2

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shochiku

Technical Specs

Runtime:

241 min 222 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original play "Genroku Chushingura" is probably the most well researched, historically accurate account of the famous Ako Vendetta that happened in 1702. Though the film was partially supported by the Ministry of Information to promote the idea of loyalty to the Japanese population just before entering WW II, it is interesting that the original play was written for the communism-oriented collective Kabuki troops 'Zenshinza', and most of the original cast members also played the same roles in the film version.

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Goofs

From ~1:40 to ~1:44 an appropriate dialog sequence occurs starting with three men walking a path with one saying "Counselor, the decision has come" and ending with "we need have no fear." That same sequence is duplicated at ~2:22 to ~2:26 with the additional dialog at the end "I want you two to return to Edo at once and inform our brothers there that I will be arriving shortly." This duplicate is out of sequence with the story.

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Connections

Version of Chushingura (1962)

User Reviews

History Speaks for Itself

One needs to see a fair amount of Japanese film to realize that so much of it is cerebral. The talkiness of this film, and most of the Kurosawa films, is to be savored. What this one misses is a modicum of action. I am as patient as anyone, but after three-and-a-half hours of discussion, as a Westerner, I expect something visual. While the close-ups and the tight scene making are fine, we are made to wait so long for an event that we know is coming from the outset. It will be interesting to see what the new film with Keanu Reeves, set to come out in December of 2013, does with the same event. This film is about honor and an ancient code. It is the sunset of the Samurai and they are dealing with the only way to do what they must do and suffer the consequence. Apparently this was a commissioned work, produced during World War II. It is spars and simple. There are some shots outside, and these become so welcome, but we are quickly brought back into the discussion to the interior. Most critical events take place off-screen. I'm sure to a Japanese viewer, the breadth of the ultimate sacrifice is part of legend and they are a willing part of the experience.