Zatoichi's Cane Sword
| Zatoichi's Cane Sword | |
|---|---|
| Japanese | 座頭市鉄火旅 |
| Hepburn | Zatōichi tekka-tabi |
| Directed by | Kimiyoshi Yasuda |
| Produced by | Ikuo Kubodera |
| Written by | Ryozo Kasahara |
| Based on |
Zatoichi by Kan Shimozawa |
| Starring |
Shintaro Katsu Shiho Fujimura Eijirō Tōno |
| Music by | Ichirō Saitō |
| Cinematography | Senkichiro Takeda |
| Edited by | Toshio Taniguchi |
Production company | |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Zatoichi's Cane Sword (座頭市鉄火旅 Zatōichi tekka-tabi) is a 1967 Japanese chambara film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind masseur Zatoichi. It was originally released by the Daiei Motion Picture Company (later acquired by Kadokawa Pictures).
Zatoichi's Cane Sword is the fifteenth episode in the 26-part film series devoted to the character of Zatoichi.
Plot
In a town dominated by yakuza, Zatoichi (Katsu) encounters a master swordsmith named Senzo (Tōno) who identifies Zatoichi's cane sword as the work of his late mentor. Senzo also spots a crack in the blade and warns that it will snap after one more kill.
Cast
- Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi
- Shiho Fujimura as Oshizu
- Eijirō Tōno as Senzo
- Yoshihiko Aoyama as Seikichi
- Tatsuo Endo as Boss Iwagoro
- Masumi Harukawa as Oryu
- Makoto Fujita as Umazo
- Kiyoko Suizenji as Oharu
- Masako Akeboshi as Matsu
- Fujio Suga as Kuwayama[1]
Reception
Critical response
Roger Greenspun, in a review for The New York Times, wrote that "[w]here it is quiet enough to allow Ichi his peaceful idiocyncrasies, Zato Ichi's Cane Sword is a pleasantly modest film, an amiable contrast to the fateful solemnities of the Toshiro Mifune samurai dramas. Ichi's very invulnerability makes for a certain relaxation, a few songs, a little buffoonery, and much of it to the good."[2]
References
- ↑ "Zatoichi's Cane Sword". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ↑ Greenspun, Roger (17 August 1971). "Film: Blind Swordsman:Hero of 'Zato Ichi' Can Overcome Any Odds". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
External links
- Zatoichi's Cane-sword at the Internet Movie Database
- Zatoichi's Cane Sword at AllMovie
- Zatoichi's Cane Sword at Rotten Tomatoes
- "Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 15 - Zatoichi's Cane Sword", review by J. Doyle Wallis for DVD Talk (28 May 2004)
- Zatoichi's Cane Sword, review by Judge Dan Mancini for DVD Verdict (8 June 2004)
- Zatoichi's Cane Sword (1967), review by D. Trull for Lard Biscuit Enterprises
- Zatoichi's Cane Sword (1967), review by Hubert for Unseen Films (17 February 2014)
- Review: Zatoichi's Cane Sword (1966), by Thomas Raven for freakengine (February 2012)
- REVIEW: Zatoichi 15 – Zatoichi's Cane Sword (1967), by Mark Pollard for Kung Fu Cinema
- Zatoichi's Cane Sword – A Complicated Story, Well Told, review by Trash Cinema Club (22 April 2014)