Release Date

01 Dec, 1932

Runtime

02:19: (HH:MM)

Synopsis

This 1932 adaptation is the earliest sound version of the ever-popular and much-filmed Chushingura story of the loyal 47 retainers who avenged their feudal lord after he was obliged to commit hara-kiri due to the machinations of a villainous courtier. As the first sound version of the classic narrative, the film was something of an event, and employed a stellar cast, who give a roster of memorable performances. Director Teinosuke Kinugasa was primarily a specialist in jidai-geki (period films), such as the internationally celebrated Gate of Hell (Jigokumon, 1953), and although he is now most famous as the maker of the avant-garde silent films A Page of Madness (Kurutta ichipeji, 1926) and Crossroads (Jujiro, 1928), Chushingura is in fact more typical of his output than those experimental works. The film ranked third in that year’s Kinema Junpo critics’ poll, and Joseph Anderson and Donald Richie noted that 'not only the sound but the quick cutting was admired by many critics.

Original Title

忠臣蔵

Photos

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Actors

三代目 阪東壽三郎

長谷川一夫

市川右太衛門

岩田祐吉

藤野秀夫

Sôjin Kamiyama

高田浩吉

堀正夫

尾上栄五郎

坂東好太郎

野寺正一

武田春郎

新井淳

押本映二

Kashichi Shimada

結城一朗

Junosuke Bandô

実川正三郎

小笠原章二郎

関操

志賀靖郎

Crew

衣笠貞之助

衣笠貞之助

渡辺哲二

杉山公平

山根秀一