Scandal (1950)

A celebrity photograph sparks a court case as a tabloid magazine spins a scandalous yarn over a painter and a famous singer.

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Ryûzô Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa

Stars:

Toshirô Mifune, Shirley Yamaguchi, Yôko Katsuragi

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Toshirô Mifune	...	Ichirô Aoye
Shirley Yamaguchi	...	Miyako Saijo (as Yoshiko Yamaguchi)
Yôko Katsuragi	...	Masako Hiruta
Noriko Sengoku	...	Sumie
Eitarô Ozawa	...	Hori
Takashi Shimura	...	Otokichi Hiruta
Shin'ichi Himori	...	Editor Asai
Ichirô Shimizu	...	Arai
Fumiko Okamura	...	Miyako's mother
Masao Shimizu	...	Judge
Tanie Kitabayashi	...	Yasu Hiruta
Sugisaku Aoyama	...	Dr. Kataoka
Kokuten Kôdô	...	Old Man A
Kichijirô Ueda	...	Old Man B
Bokuzen Hidari	...	Drunk

Storyline

Famous singer Miyako Saijo, who is publicity shy, and motorbiking artist Ichirô Aoye, who has minor celebrity, meet by chance in Kappazawa while Ichirô is on a painting expedition, and Miyako is on a retreat. As she has missed her bus to Kaminoyu and as Ichirô is heading there anyway, he offers her a ride to the resort where both of them are staying and which is largely empty as it is the off season. As he visits her in her room solely as a measure of friendship and camaraderie, they are unaware that a paparazzo working for scandal sheet Amour has taken a photograph of the two of them together on her balcony. Hori, Amour's publisher, decides to print the photograph along with an accompanying salacious story on what could have happened based on the photograph, but which is a total fabrication. Hori has done such before with other celebrities, never having been sued as he believes his subjects either like the publicity or are too busy or scared to take action. A libel suit he feels will...

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Plot Keywords:

tabloid | singer | painter | mountain | press | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

17 July 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Scandal

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shochiku Company, Shôchiku Eiga

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character Hiruta was, as Kurosawa later recollected, based on a man he met in a bar in the early 1940's who had very similar characteristics and personal issues.

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Quotes

Otokichi Hiruta: Man is an extremely tragic creature. And so weak. Because he's weak, he pretends to be strong. That's our trouble. When I read about Aoye, I felt sorry for the man. I felt like someone had struck my own son. It's true. That much is true. I had no intention of imposing on him. Then I meet this scoundrel Hori. What an absolute swine! Every cent that pig earns is filthy! To take it all way from him would delight me. Or so I felt, and that's where I made my mistake. Beyond all doubt, Hori is one of...
[...]

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Soundtracks

Buttons and Bows
(uncredited)
Written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Sung by the patrons in the bar

User Reviews

great but overlooked

This Kurasawa film, starring the ubiquitous Toshiro Mifune is exactly what most film fans do NOT expect. This is NOT a samurai film and there is no killing and it was set in the present-day. Unfortunately, because of these factors it is seldom shown on TV and has been largely ignored by Kurasawa buffs. This is a real shame because I think it's one of his best--due to wonderful writing and characterizations.

The story begins with Mifune on vacation. He's in the mountains painting for relaxation when he accidentally meets up with a famous female celebrity. He drives her back to the inn they are both staying at and the next day they happen to meet again and share breakfast. Nothing illicit--just two nice people sharing time together. However, unknown to them, they are seen and photographed by sleazy tabloid writers who try to create scandal.

The star is't terribly bothered by the mess but Mifune sees this as a great dishonor and he MUST gain satisfaction from the rag. They refuse to relent and so Mifune seeks out legal representation to sue.

This is only the first third of the movie. The alcoholic lawyer and his handicapped daughter make up a powerful and importance presence in the movie. The ending is NOT TO BE MISSED--I couldn't have wanted a better human drama or better acting. Wonderful and true throughout.