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The Only Son

Original title: Hitori musuko
  • 1936
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
The Only Son (1936)
Drama

A widow sends her only son away to receive a better education. Years later, she visits him, finding him a poor school teacher with a wife and son.A widow sends her only son away to receive a better education. Years later, she visits him, finding him a poor school teacher with a wife and son.A widow sends her only son away to receive a better education. Years later, she visits him, finding him a poor school teacher with a wife and son.

  • Director
    • Yasujirô Ozu
  • Writers
    • Yasujirô Ozu
    • Tadao Ikeda
    • Masao Arata
  • Stars
    • Chôko Iida
    • Shin'ichi Himori
    • Masao Hayama
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    4.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Yasujirô Ozu
    • Writers
      • Yasujirô Ozu
      • Tadao Ikeda
      • Masao Arata
    • Stars
      • Chôko Iida
      • Shin'ichi Himori
      • Masao Hayama
    • 23User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos23

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    Top cast13

    Edit
    Chôko Iida
    Chôko Iida
    • Tsune Nonomiya (O-Tsune)
    Shin'ichi Himori
    Shin'ichi Himori
    • Ryosuke Nonomiya
    Masao Hayama
    Masao Hayama
    • Ryosuke Nonomiya, as child
    Yoshiko Tsubouchi
    Yoshiko Tsubouchi
    • Sugiko
    Mitsuko Yoshikawa
    Mitsuko Yoshikawa
    • O-Taka
    Chishû Ryû
    Chishû Ryû
    • Professor Ookubo
    Tomoko Naniwa
    • Ookubo's wife
    Jun Yokoyama
    • Okubo's son
    • (as Bakudan Kozô)
    Tomio Aoki
    Tomio Aoki
    • Tomibo
    • (as Tokkan Kozô)
    Eiko Takamatsu
    • Jokou
    Seiichi Katô
    • Kinjo no ko
    • (as Seiichi Kato)
    Kazuko Kojima
    • Kunishi
    Kiyoshi Aono
    • Matsumura, old man
    • Director
      • Yasujirô Ozu
    • Writers
      • Yasujirô Ozu
      • Tadao Ikeda
      • Masao Arata
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was Yasujirô Ozu's first feature film with all-synchronous dialogue.
    • Connections
      Featured in A Train Arrives at the Station (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Old Black Joe
      Written by Stephen Foster

    User reviews23

    Featured review
    9/10

    Another enormously touching Ozu film

    Incredibly gentle and touching Ozu picture about a single mother who works her butt off to send her only son off to school. Many years later, we follow her journey to visit that son in Tokyo. He hasn't kept in contact very well. His mother doesn't even know about his wife and infant son, nor that he is a grade school teacher, a rather low (and low-paid) position. Simply put, he's embarrassed at the little he has accomplished and he thinks his mother will be gravely disappointed that she went to so much trouble to educate him. The whole situation really hit home, and I was deeply moved by it. The film also features incredible cinematography and editing.
    • zetes
    • Apr 3, 2003
    • Permalink

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    FAQ14

    • How long is The Only Son?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 1, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Languages
      • Japanese
      • German
    • Also known as
      • 獨生子
    • Production company
      • Shochiku
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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