IMDb RATING
7.6/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Toshio Chiba
- Masakichi
- (as Toshirô Chiba)
- …
Yoshindo Yamaji
- Yahei
- (as Yoshito Yamaji)
- …
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaHanji's wife Yoshi practices "ohaguro" (literally: "black teeth"). In many areas of Asia, blackened teeth were considered a sign of beauty and maturity. In Japan, the practice was banned by the government in 1870.
- GoofsIn the moonlit scene by the pond, Tane tells Zatoichi that she has a facial mole exactly like his. But neither character has any such mole.
- Quotes
Tane: You have a mole here. I wonder if it's a lucky mole. I have one just like it. They say it means I'll have lots of children.
Zatôichi: It's a lucky mole.
Tane: What would I do with so many children.
Zatôichi: Just don't raise them to be yakuza.
Tane: I won't. But why do you say that?
Zatôichi: Because to be a yakuza is a foolish way to live.
Tane: Then why don't you live a decent life?
Zatôichi: It's like being stuck in a bog. It's not easy to pull yourself out once you've fallen in.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Best in Action: 1961 (2018)
Featured review
I'll watch this kind of movie over most big studio stuff any day
A tale of warring townships and two strong characters who cant help but being pawns in a horrible game of carnage. Set in rural Japan in feudal times the setting is beautiful.
Too bad the camera works don't quite follow up. The scope is 70mm (or close to it), but I could settle with less if the cameraman (I suspect they didn't have one) didn't cut off the heads all the time. The use of zoom-lens sometimes works and sometimes don't. One time zooming in on Tane-san for instance was very dramatic. Intense was also the battle scenes. Very good.
Zatoichi is a good character and the actor playing him is fitting. The story is good and makes for an intriguing film despite some flaws. In all respects I think its inferior to Sanjuro though.
This is my first Zatoichi and I will check out other entries in the series for sure (at least the Kitano "Zatoichi" from 2003 is easy to get hold on).
Too bad the camera works don't quite follow up. The scope is 70mm (or close to it), but I could settle with less if the cameraman (I suspect they didn't have one) didn't cut off the heads all the time. The use of zoom-lens sometimes works and sometimes don't. One time zooming in on Tane-san for instance was very dramatic. Intense was also the battle scenes. Very good.
Zatoichi is a good character and the actor playing him is fitting. The story is good and makes for an intriguing film despite some flaws. In all respects I think its inferior to Sanjuro though.
This is my first Zatoichi and I will check out other entries in the series for sure (at least the Kitano "Zatoichi" from 2003 is easy to get hold on).
helpful•89
- Atavisten
- Apr 3, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Повість про Затоічі
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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