Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)

Ogami Itto volunteers to be tortured by the yakuza to save a prostitute and is hired by their leader to kill an evil chamberlain.

Director:

Kenji Misumi

Writers:

Kazuo Koike (story), Goseki Kojima (story)

Stars:

Tomisaburô Wakayama, Gô Katô, Yûko Hama

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tomisaburô Wakayama	...	Ogami Itto
Gô Katô	...	Magomura Kanbei
Yûko Hama	...	Koshio Torizo / Miura Tori
Isao Yamagata	...	Sawatari Genba
Michitarô Mizushima	...	Itakura Naizen-no-Sho
Ichirô Nakatani	...	Yagyu Samurai
Akihiro Tomikawa	...	Ogami Daigoro
Sayoko Katô	...	Omatsu
Jun Hamamura	...	Miura Tatewaki
Daigo Kusano	...	Kuchiki Rokubei
Shun'ya Wazaki	...	Ikiji Samon
Hiroshi Nawa	...	Monkumatsu
Sakai Umezu
Saburô Date	...	Swift-style swordsman
Hatsuo Yamaya

Storyline

Ogami Itto volunteers to be tortured by the yakuza to save a prostitute and is hired by their leader to kill an evil chamberlain.

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Plot Keywords:

ninja | yakuza | villain | drifter | kung fu fighting | 

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Taglines:

The samurai ... in his hands, flashing steel becomes the ultimate weapon of vengeance!

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

April 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death

Company Credits

Production Co:

Katsu Production, Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 83 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Alternate Versions

The original theatrical USA release of the 1970s had the "origin" flashback from Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance ("Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance") edited in, was dubbed into English, and retitled "Lightning Swords of Death." In the 1990s and without the flashback, that was released panned-&-scanned on VHS as "Lupine Wolf."

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Connections

Followed by Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell (1974)

User Reviews

Tomisaburo Wakayama is simply without equal.

These movies were infamous for their incredibly brutal and bloody swordplay sequences, but equally impressive IMHO was the leading actor- Tomisaburo Wakayama a.k.a. "Lone Wolf" was surely the greatest martial arts star ever. The command and authority with which he wielded a sword (and other weapons) was just phenomenal. The blade truly was an extension of himself, and his use of it was the definition of lethal, with none of the unnecessary/show-off flourishes so desperately thrown about by today's wannabes. He had incredible presence and charisma- easily on a par with the likes of say Eastwood or Bronson- with eyes that reflected pure death, and the desolation in his soul. There were moments in the "Babycart" series where you'd swear he was the personification of his namesake, the Wolf. You never doubted for one second that he WAS shogun executioner, masterless samurai, assassin for hire. One look at him in action, and you could readily understand why his enemies trembled at the mention of his name, and ran from him in sheer terror. Alas, Lone Wolf is one with void now, but his legend will live on forever in these films.

Forget Toshiro Mifune. Forget Takakura Ken. Forget Sonny Chiba. Forget Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, and any of those wire-reliant ballet dancers from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. And CERTAINLY forget any American martial artists that you could care to name. Tomisaburo Wakayama was, is, and forever shall be, THE MAN!