#679a: MISUMI, Kenji: The Tale Of Zatoichi (1962)

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MISUMI, Kenji (Japan)
The Tale Of Zatoichi
Spine #679a
Blu-ray


The epic saga of Zatoichi begins. As tensions mount between rival yakuza clans, one boss hires a formidable but ailing ronin as his clan's muscle — while the other employs a humble, moral blind masseur named Ichi. With its lightning-fast swordplay, sleight-of-hand dice games, and codes of honor upheld and betrayed, this first chapter sets the stage for all the Zatoichi adventures to come. And Shintaro Katsu brings author Kan Shimozawa's blind swordsman to vivid life, making the character excitingly, indelibly his own.

96 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
in Japanese
2:35:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2013
Director/Writers


Original story by Kan Shimozawa.
Screenplay by Minoru Inuzuka.
Kenji Misumi was 41 when he directed The Tale of Zatoichi.

Other Misumi films in the Collection:

#679h: Fight, Zatoichi, Fight (1964)
#679l: Zatoichi And The Chess Expert (1965)

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

100-page booklet featuring an essay by Geoffrey O’Brien and the original story, The Tale of Zatoichi by Shimozawa.

Commentary

None.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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