There was once a time where films were the rulers of Japan! A masterpiece of musical comedy period film.
Talk: Isshin Inudo〔Film and Commercial Director〕
Milkman Saito〔Film Critic〕
| Director | Tadashi Sawashima |
|---|---|
| Cast | Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri, Chiyonosuke Azuma |
| Country | Japan |
| Year | 1962 |
| Time | 85min |
| Language | Japanese |
| Subtitles | English |
| Distribution | Toei |
Short-sighted Okimi (Hibari Misora) and clumsy Otoshi (Chiemi Eri) are footwear attendants at a theatre. Though they do love plays, there were sick and tired of looking after footwear. There comes in Houkaibo (Chiyonosuke Azuma), a beggar-monk who was in fact a yoriki (police officer) under disguise investigating drug dealers. The two, accidentally arrested amongst the others, go on a journey through the Tokaido with some consolation money from the magistrate's office.
Although a main framework does exist - cracking down on drug smuggling and a love triangle - more fun and crazy events are prioritised. Alcohol and feasts at the teahouse, persimmons rolling down the road, passengers running with the palanquin, singing and dancing at any chance given. There is a kind of reassurance that any type of film can go by with Hibari and Chiemi. Here, films are the rulers of the country; this is the best of musical comedy period films.
Joined Toyoko Film (predecessor of Toei Studio) in 1950 and worked as assistant director by Masahiro Makino, Kunio Watanabe and Sadatsugu Matsuda. Made his debut as director in 1957 with "Torakawamaru the Koga Ninja". He then led the golden age of Toei period films with a rapid pace making four to five films a year. His eventful stories, told babbling on in modern language, and introduction of musical, comedy and suspense, overwhelmed pre-Sawashima period films with velocity. Drawing out the best from Hibari Misora and Kinnosuke Nakamura, he was an entertainment director who represented the luxurious quality of the Japanese cinema golden age. This is a significant screening that questions the world about period films which covers a great range of genres. He passed away on 27th January 2018 at 91 years old. He never gave up on creating a new film to the very end.
Hosted by: Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival Committee
[Kyoto Prefectural Government, The Museum of Kyoto, Toei Company, Ltd, Kyoto Movie Studios, Shochiku Studio Co., Ltd., Toei Kyoto Studio Co., Ltd., Iwamoto Metal Co., Ltd., Directors Univ,inc., Ritsumeikan University]
Co-hosted by: KYOTO CMEX Executive Committee
Sponsors: TESPAC Co., Ltd./Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo/TSUKUMO
With the Association of: Kyoto Crossmedia Promotion Agency/Venice Film Festival/Istituto Italiano di Cultura - Osaka/The Japan Foundation Kyoto Office/National Film Archive of Japan/Kyoto V-REX Executive Committee/Demachi za/TOYOSU CO.,LTD.
Presented Under the Auspices of: Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, Inc./Foreign Film Importer-Distributors Association of Japan/Motion Picture and Television Engineering Society of Japan Inc.
Supported by: Japan Arts Council
