Kozure Ôkami: Ko wo kashi ude kashi tsukamatsuru (1972)

The story of a Ronin (i.e. a masterless samurai) who wanders the countryside of Japan with his small child, having various adventures.

Director:

Kenji Misumi

Writers:

Kazuo Koike (manga), Goseki Kojima (manga)

Stars:

Tomisaburô Wakayama, Fumio Watanabe, Gô Katô

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tomisaburô Wakayama	...	Ogami Itto
Fumio Watanabe	...	Bizennokami Yagyû
Gô Katô	...	Ikiyu
Tomoko Mayama	...	Osen (whore)
Yûko Hama
Shigeru Tsuyuguchi	...	Kurando Yagyû
Asao Uchida	...	Kenmotsu Sugito
Taketoshi Naitô	...	Ichige
Yoshi Katô	...	Danjô Tonami
Keiko Fujita	...	Azami Ogami
Isao Yamagata
Reiko Kasahara	...	Crazy Woman
Ichirô Nakae
Michitarô Mizushima
Akihiro Tomikawa	...	Daigoro

Storyline

In this first film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, adapted from the manga by Kazuo Koike, we are told the story of the Lone Wolf and Cub's origin. Ogami Itto, the official Shogunate executioner, has been framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan, against whom he now is waging a one-man war, along with his infant son, Daigoro.

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Plot Keywords:

samurai | revenge | undressing | rape | ninja | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

15 January 1972 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Lone Wolf and Cub: Child and Expertise for Rent

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Katsu Production, Toho Company, Toho Film (Eiga) Co. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Footage from the first two Lone Wolf and Cub films (Sword of Vengeance and Baby Cart on the River Styx) from 1972 (Japan) would years later be re-edited into an American film called Shogun Assassin (1980). This merger of the two films would go on to earn it's place in American pop culture as one of the most notorious exploitation films of the early 80's.

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Quotes

Inspector Yagyu Bizen-no-Kami: Men, take Ogami Itto!
Ogami Itto: This is too odd! Inspector Bizen... What is the meaning of these uniformed men? Was it your intent to take me away from the beginning?
Inspector Yagyu Bizen-no-Kami: Naturally, in such an emergency as this!
Ogami Itto: If that were so, they would have come here openly. Besides, there shouldn't have been any reason to hide your uniforms.
[Grabs a guard]
Ogami Itto: Furthermore, how do you explain the armor? If you were in such a rush to come here, why did you take the time to don this?

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Alternate Versions

The 1999 UK video was cut by 6 secs by the BBFC to edit a scene where a woman is stripped topless, and the Artsmagic DVD featured the same print. The 2009 Eureka release (featured in the "Lone Wolf & Cub Collection") is fully uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in Caminho para Perdição (2002)

User Reviews

Beauty among slaughter

The first entry in a series of master pieces. Based very strongly upon the manga series `Lone Wolf and Cub' is most likely the best film series derived from comics. And truly great films as well. One cannot base one story on a single comic. There are so many elements in each. There is a basic story, but often times there are mixed with others. Little things are thrown in as well. Normally it would make any less a film seem crammed or just forced in. But it is pulled off brilliantly.

This film, the first entry is largely a set up for the sequels but still brilliant, from its beautiful camera shots to the extremely gory ascetic fights. It tells the story of how the main character Ogami Itto was exiled from his royal position as the Shoguns decapitator. It flashes from past to present until the entire past story is told. The ending fight is a great climax.

The sword work although at times seems fake is brilliantly choreographed. The gore in the film is not overly done, but rather thrown in to give it an artistic feel, as if you're watching a moving painting. Often times one may think every scene could very well be a panting.

Some aspects of the plot may seem odd to most western audiences. The scene where Ogami gives his son a choice between a ball and a sword. Or rather life or death, may strike many people as cold. However one must understand bushido and know that the way of the samurai is life in death. Ask yourself what would be worse taking your son on a trip as you kill men beyond number, or giving somewhat of a choice.

This film is truly beautiful, and hold up today as not just one of the greatest samurai films ever made, but films period.