Wednesday, 14 June 2017

Buntarō Futagawa - 雄呂血 [Orochi] (Serpent) (1925)

雄呂血 Orochi (1925)
English title: Serpent
Japan/Silent/B&W

Directed by Buntarō Futagawa
Written by Rokuhei Susukita

Cast:
  
Tsumasaburô Bandô...Heisaburo Kuritomi

Misao Seki...Hyozan Matsusumi

Utako Tamaki...Namie, Hyôzan's daughter

Kensaku Haruji...Shin'nojo Esaki, her husband

Momotarô Yamamura...Shinpachiro Namioka

Kotonosuke Nakamura...Kokichi

Shigeyo Arashi...Nekohachi

Kichimatsu Nakamura...Jirozo Akagi

Zen'ichirô Yasuda...Santa

Shizuko Mori...Ochiyo

The story of a samurai who falls on hard times due to misunderstandings and explains the plots of his enemies. Such explanations superbly depict the absurdity of the samurai's unjust world.
Orochi is a 1925 black and white Japanese silent film with benshi accompaniment directed by Buntarō Futagawa. It is the most popular and beloved film of Tsumasaburō Bandō, featuring the star at the height of his fame.
The film title was originally "Outlaw," but was banned by Japanese censors and police because the depiction of an outlaw as a hero was seen as a very dangerous suggestion. The title was later changed to "Serpent," describing how Tsumasaburō Bandō wiggles when he fights back, and how even in death, a serpent still looks terrifying.

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