The 1960s saw two of the most popular stars of Japanese post-WWII cinema grace movie screens.

Like a strange but wonderful hybrid of Charlie Chaplin, Robert Mitchum, Wallace Beery, and Clint Eastwood, Shintaro Katsu started out at Daiei Studios in the mid-1950s and labored pretty much unrecognized in period action movies and the occasional more serious "arthouse" film until 1962. That was the year he starred as a wandering blind masseur tired of being picked on who learns to wield a sword in Tale of Zatoichi (Zatoichi Monogatari) directed by unsung master Kenji Misumi. It was popular enough to warrant a sequel, and Katsu's real-life brother Tomisaburo Wakayama played Zatoichi's estranged brother and nemesis in the action-packed follow-up, The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (Zoku Zatoichi Monogatari). After that, with the box office breaking records, Daiei developed the character into a series of films. Katsu continued to portray the beloved blind swordsman in 26 movies as well as over 100 episodes on television. His last appearance as the humble, wisecracking anti-hero was in 1989 in Zatoichi (a film Katsu also directed). Katsu also starred in several of nouvelle vague director Yasuzo Masumura's most memorable pictures, including Hoodlum Soldier (Heitai Yakuza) and Yakuza Masterpiece (Yakuza Zessho). In the late 1960s, Katsu formed his own production company, going on to produce most of the later Zatoichi films as well as all six of the Lone Wolf and Cub series (once again starring his brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama).

Now imagine Montgomery Clift as an action star, and you get a faint idea of the image of Katsu's Daiei Studios' colleague, Raizo Ichikawa. Descended from a long line of kabuki performers, he started his movie career around the same time as Katsu in the mid-1950s, making period drama and action films as well as more "serious" pictures for directors like Kenji Mizoguchi (New Tales of the Taira Clan) and Kon Ichikawa (Enjo). But his most famous role remains Kyoshiro Nemuri, a misanthropic, half-breed samurai with God and women issues whose lady-in-waiting mother had been raped by a Portuguese missionary during a Black Mass, thus resulting in his birth. The film series featuring the Nemuri character-known in English-speaking countries as Sleepy Eyes of Death/Son of the Black Mass-grew gradually more existential and macabre as the series progressed, and the Nemuri character had his coldblooded side, conflicted within by both benevolent and misanthropic impulses. Ichikawa also appeared in the loosely linked Sword (Ken) trilogy directed by Kenji Misumi-all of them masterpieces: Destiny's Son (Kiru), Sword (Ken), and Sword Devil (Ken Ki). The second-to-last picture starring Ichikawa, Castle Menagerie (Nemuri Kyoshiro Akujo Gari) was his last appearance as Nemuri. Ichikawa died of cancer in July of 1969 at the age of 37, mere days before the completion of his final movie, Gambler's Life (Bakuto Ichidai). Because of his tragic death at a young age as well as his astounding charisma onscreen, Ichikawa continues to enjoy a burgeoning cult status and has often been described as the Japanese James Dean.

Both actors shared a sublime ability to transcend genre stereotypes, creating action heroes who were wounded, soul-searching individuals. Join us for this retrospective tribute honoring two legends of Japanese cinema!

Featured Works:

Samurai Vendetta: A Chronicle of Pale Cherry Blossoms (Hakuoki, Kazuo Mori, 1959); Scar Yosaburo (Kirare Yosaburo, Daisuke Ito, 1960); Destiny's Son (Kiru, Kenji Misumi, 1962, pictured); New Tale of Zatoichi (Shin Zatoichi monogatari, Tokuzo Tanaka, 1963); Zatoichi On the Road: Fighting Journey (Zatoichi kenka-tabi, Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1963); Zatoichi, the Fugitive (Zatoichi kyojo-tabi, Tokuzo Tanaka, 1963); Nemuri Kyoshiro at Bay: The Sword of Seduction (Nemuri Kyoshiro Joyo Ken, Kazuo Ikehiro, 1964); The Lone Stalker (Hitori Okami, Kazuo Ikehiro, 1968); The Devil's Temple (Oni no Sumu Yakata, Kenji Misumi, 1969)

Program information:

The Double-Edged Sword: The Films of Shintaro Katsu & Raizo Ichikawa