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IMDbPro

Sansho the Bailiff

Original title: Sanshô dayû
  • 19541954
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyôko Kagawa, and Kinuyo Tanaka in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
  • Drama
In medieval Japan, a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.In medieval Japan, a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.In medieval Japan, a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
16K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Kenji Mizoguchi
  • Writers
    • Ogai Mori(short story)
    • Fuji Yahiro
    • Yoshikata Yoda
  • Stars
    • Kinuyo Tanaka
    • Yoshiaki Hanayagi
    • Kyôko Kagawa
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kenji Mizoguchi
  • Writers
    • Ogai Mori(short story)
    • Fuji Yahiro
    • Yoshikata Yoda
  • Stars
    • Kinuyo Tanaka
    • Yoshiaki Hanayagi
    • Kyôko Kagawa
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 63User reviews
    • 77Critic reviews
    • 96Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Photos90

    Kyôko Kagawa in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi and Kyôko Kagawa in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Keiko Enami, Masahiko Tsugawa, and Kinuyo Tanaka in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi and Kinuyo Tanaka in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi and Eitarô Shindô in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi and Kinuyo Tanaka in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi and Kinuyo Tanaka in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kinuyo Tanaka
    Kinuyo Tanaka
    • Tamakias Tamaki
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi
    • Zushiôas Zushiô
    Kyôko Kagawa
    Kyôko Kagawa
    • Anjuas Anju
    Eitarô Shindô
    Eitarô Shindô
    • Sanshô dayûas Sanshô dayû
    Akitake Kôno
    Akitake Kôno
    • Taroas Taro
    Masao Shimizu
    Masao Shimizu
    • Masauji Tairaas Masauji Taira
    Ken Mitsuda
    Ken Mitsuda
    • Prime Minister Fujiwaraas Prime Minister Fujiwara
    Kazukimi Okuni
    • Norimuraas Norimura
    Yôko Kosono
    Yôko Kosono
    • Kohagias Kohagi
    Kimiko Tachibana
    • Namijias Namiji
    Ichirô Sugai
    Ichirô Sugai
    • Nio, old escaped slaveas Nio, old escaped slave
    Teruko Ômi
    • Nakagimias Nakagimi
    Masahiko Tsugawa
    Masahiko Tsugawa
    • Young Zushioas Young Zushio
    • (as Masahiko Katô)
    Keiko Enami
    Keiko Enami
    • Young Anjuas Young Anju
    Bontarô Miake
    • Kichijias Kichiji
    Chieko Naniwa
    Chieko Naniwa
    • Ubatakeas Ubatake
    Kikue Môri
    Kikue Môri
    • Priestessas Priestess
    Ryôsuke Kagawa
    Ryôsuke Kagawa
    • Ritsushi Kumotakeas Ritsushi Kumotake
    • Director
      • Kenji Mizoguchi
    • Writers
      • Ogai Mori(short story)
      • Fuji Yahiro
      • Yoshikata Yoda
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film, like several films by director Kenji Mizoguchi from this period, was widely praised in both Japan and the West for its smoothly flowing camera work. But these camera movements were, in fact, planned and blocked by his great cameraman, Kazuo Miyagawa, rather than by the director, who gave Miyagawa free rein in his use of the camera.
    • Quotes

      Masauji Taira: [Speaking to his son Zushio on the verge of being exiled and separated from his family] Zushio, I wonder if you'll become a stubborn man like me. You may be too young to understand, but hear me out anyway. Without mercy, man is like a beast. Even if you are hard on yourself, be merciful to others. Men are created equal. Everyone is entitled to their happiness.

    • Connections
      Featured in Cinematic Venom Presents: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die: Sansho The Bailiff (1954) (2017)

    User reviews63

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    exceptionally sad tale of the evils of medieval Japanese society
    The story begins with the governor of a province being stripped of his position because he was too kind and thought foremost about the welfare of his people. This would upset the terror and repression used to control the people! His family is cast out of the land and it's unknown what the exact fate was of the kind governor. Not too long after that, the family is torn apart by bandits and the 13 and 8 year-old children are sold into slavery. Their mother, unknown to them, if forced into prostitution. Now if the movie only wallowed in this misery, I would have no doubt hated it. However, what is interesting is what the boy does 10 later when he finally escapes his slave master. His actions and his subsequent attempts to find his family make the movie well worth seeing. Yes, it is quite depressing but there are some good moments as well and the story kept my attention throughout.
    helpful•22
    8
    • planktonrules
    • Jul 8, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Legend of Bailiff Sansho
    • Filming locations
      • Japan
    • Production company
      • Daiei Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,267
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyôko Kagawa, and Kinuyo Tanaka in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
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