ACF 479: Destiny's Son at Japan Society

Destiny's Son
Directed by Kenji Misumi
Japan, 1962, 71 min, color

Japan Society's current film series The Double Edged Sword: The Chambara Films of Shintaro Katsu & Raizo Ichikawa continues tomorrow night, Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 7:30 PM with this rather unusual swordplay film. In it Ichikawa plays Takakura Shingo, a young man who has been raised as the son of a low ranking samurai, but whose actual origins are far different.

After wandering around Japan to gain life experience, Shingo returns to his father and sister with unexpected skills as a swordsmen. These include a formidable stance that was inspired by a lute player. Shingo's victory over a talented swordsman incurs the wrath and jealousy of another low ranking samurai whose own son was defeated in the contest. This sets Shingo off on a search for revenge and further wanderings.

Shingo demonstrates the stance inspired by a lute player

Director Kenji Misumi was born in 1921 in Kyoto, Japan. Most of his films were made for Daiei, where he was a contract player until it went bankrupt in 1971. He wnet on to make a few more films before his death in 1975. Many of his movies are available on DVD. These include several of the films in the Zatoichi series, including the first one, which appeared the same year as Destiny's Son. He also directed films in the Lone Wolf & Cub (a.k.a. Baby Cart) series and in the Sleepy Eyes of Death series, in which Ichikawa also starred.

Destiny's Son has been referred to as "a forgotten masterpiece" in some of the promo material. Personally, I think is a bit more praise than the film merits. There is a lengthy expository scene in which Shingo's "father" tells him the truth about his birth. For me, this scene brought the film to a grinding halt for awhile. Too much "telling" and not enough "showing."

There were also a few minor things that didn't make much sense. For example, at one point a government official for whome Shingo has been working says that they've been together for about three years. However, the story at that point seems to indicate that he's been in the official's employ for a far shorter time. Of course, this might be just a problem with the subtitles, or a misreading on my part.

Still, while I don't regard this very short film (at 71 minutes it probably just qualifies as feature length) as a masterpiece, I think it's a good film that is definitely worth seeing. This is especially so because it does not appear to be available on a Region 1 DVD.

So if you can, make it to Friday's screening of Destiny's Son, which will take place at Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street (beteween 1st and 2nd Avenues), NYC.

Buy tickets online or call the Japan Society Box Office at 212.715.1258, Mon - Fri 11 am - 6 pm.

ACF 431: Samurai Vendetta lobby cards

In anticipation of tonight's screening of Samurai Vendetta at 7:30 at Japan Society, here are some screen captures of lobby cards that were on my screener DVD.

ACF 428: Samurai Vendetta kicks off new series at Japan Society this Friday, Dec 11th

All images © 1959 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Samurai Vendetta / Hakuoki

(a.k.a. A Chronicle of Pale Cherry Blossoms)

Directed by Kazuo Mori

Japan, 1959, 109 min

In Japanese with English subtitles

The Double-Edged Sword: The Chambara Films of Shintaro Katsu & Raizo Ichikawa is the name of Japan Society's new monthly film series. It kicks off this Friday, December 11th at 7:30 PM with a screening of Samurai Vendetta (Hakuoki). This 1959 film stars both actors as expert swordsmen from rival schools.

This rivalry has resulted in numerous duels. To end the bloodshed, each are sacrificed by the heads of their schools by kicking them out. The two are also rivals who each love the same woman. But both are highly honorable, sort of a samurai version of "frenemies."

I first encountered Raizo Ichikawa in his title role in the Nemuri Kyoshiro series, a.k.a. Sleepy Eyes of Death. (The fourth film in that series will also be screened as part of The Double-Edged Sword). In fact, I still have several films in the series on VHS tapes that AnimEigo put out under their Samurai Cinema brand. Ichikawa died a tragically early death from cancer in 1969, just shy of his 38th birthday.

Raizo Ichikawa is probably best known for his roles as Zatoichi and as Hanzo the Razor. It's terrific seeing him paired off with Ichikawa in this epic swordplay variation on the story of the 47 Ronin.

I had the opportunity to watch a screener of Samurai Vendetta and really enjoyed it. So much so that I'm going to the opening night screening and see it again!

This series has been curated by Chris D. (a.k.a. Chris Desjardins), author of Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film (a fine book that I'm about half-way through), and is an updated version of a series he presented in Los Angeles in 2002. He's slated to be present for the opening night festivities, which will include a reception and book signing in addition to the screening.

For more information, go to my November 24th post, or to this page at the Japan Society website.