The Life of Oharu (1952)
Saikaku ichidai onna (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 2h 28min
- Drama
- 20 Apr 1964 (USA)
- Movie
Follows a woman's fight and survival amid the vicissitudes of life and the cruelty of society.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Kinuyo Tanaka | ... |
Oharu
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Tsukie Matsuura | ... |
Tomo, Oharu's Mother
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| Ichirô Sugai | ... |
Shinzaemon, Oharu's Father
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| Toshirô Mifune | ... |
Katsunosuke
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Toshiaki Konoe | ... |
Lord Harutaka Matsudaira
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| Kiyoko Tsuji | ... |
Landlady
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Hisako Yamane | ... |
Lady Matsudaira
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Jûkichi Uno | ... |
Yakichi Ogiya
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| Eitarô Shindô | ... |
Kahe Sasaya
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| Akira Ôizumi | ... |
Fumikichi, Sasaya's Friend
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| Kyôko Kusajima | ... |
Sodegaki
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| Masao Shimizu | ... |
Kikuoji
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| Daisuke Katô | ... |
Tasaburo Hishiya
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| Toranosuke Ogawa | ... |
Yoshioka
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Akira Oizumi | ... |
Manager Bunkichi
(as Hiroshi Oizumi)
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Haruyo Ichikawa | ... |
Lady-in-waiting Iwabashi
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Hiroshi Mizuno | ... |
Servant Shinozaki Kumon
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Yuriko Hamada | ... |
Otsubone Yoshioka
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| Noriko Sengoku | ... |
Lady-in-waiting Sakurai
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| Sadako Sawamura | ... |
Owasa
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| Masao Mishima | ... |
Taisaburo Hishiya
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| Eijirô Yanagi | ... |
Forger
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| Chieko Higashiyama | ... |
Myokai, the Old Nun
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| Takashi Shimura | ... |
Old Man
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Benkei Shiganoya | ... |
Jihei
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Directed by
| Kenji Mizoguchi | ||
Written by
| Saikaku Ihara | ... | (novel "Koshuku Ichidai Onna") |
| Kenji Mizoguchi | ... | () |
| Yoshikata Yoda | ... | () |
Produced by
| Eisei Koi | ... | producer |
| Kenji Mizoguchi | ... | producer |
| Isamu Yoshii | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Ichirô Saitô | ||
Cinematography by
| Yoshimi Hirano | ... | (as Yoshimi Kono) |
Editing by
| Toshio Gotô | ||
Production Design by
| Hiroshi Mizutani | ||
Additional Crew
| Isamu Yoshi | ... | historical consultant |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Toho (1952) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Rio Bamba (1955) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Globe Films International (1961) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Cinegate (1975) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- NHK Sôgô (1986) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK-BS2 (1987) (Japan) (tv)
- Shintoho Film Distribution Committee (Japan)
- The Criterion Collection (1997) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (1997) (United States) (laserdisc)
- The Criterion Collection (2013) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2013) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Toho Studios (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
- Toho Studios (2023) (Japan) (Blu-ray)
- Toho (1964) (United States) (subtitled)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A fifty-year-old prostitute, no longer able to attract men, looks back on her sad life. Once a lady-in-waiting at the imperial court at Kyoto, Oharu fell in love with, and became the lover of, a man below her station. They were discovered, and Oharu and her family were exiled. For Oharu there followed a life filled with one sorrow and humiliation after another.
Written by George S. Davis |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | This film, which was director Kenji Mizoguchi's dream project, was severely under-financed, and the production was forced to use a warehouse instead of a regular sound stage. This warehouse happened to be located near railways, and each time a train passed by, they had to stop shooting, which made the shooting of the film even more difficult with the director's obsessive use of long, continuous, uninterrupted takes. The same warehouse was also used for Josef Von Sternberg's film 'The Saga of Anatahan'. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in See Here My Love (1978). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits shown over Japanese artwork/water-colors. See more » |
| Quotes |
Katsunosuke:
Lady Oharu, a human being - no, woman - can only be happy if she marries for love. Rank and money don't mean happiness. See more » |