The Loyal 47 Ronin

The Loyal 47 Ronin 1932

1

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.

1932

A Woman Crying in Spring

A Woman Crying in Spring 1933

6.80

Kenji and Chuko travel to Hokkaido as migrant workers and enlist as miners under the strict leadership of Guzuyasu. On the boat journey to Hokkaido, Kenji attracts Ohama, who is travelling to Hokkaido to open a bar. When Kenji visits the bar, he chases away a sailor who was hassling a shy girl, Ofuji, which makes Ohama jealous.

1933

Silver Stream

Silver Stream 1931

1

Michiko gets pregnant after a rape. She marries a boring business partner of her father to avoid the shame. Later she meets the rapist again who is now a union leader in opposition of her husband.

1931

First Steps Ashore

First Steps Ashore 1932

7.00

The story of a sailor who begins a love affair with a woman he saves from suicide.

1932

The Layabout and Seabathing

The Layabout and Seabathing 1933

1

The seventh film in the popular series starring the Yotamono trio (Mitsui, Abe and Isono). Summer came and the three of them decided to open a store on the beach to get rich...

1933

Crying to the Blue Sky

Crying to the Blue Sky 1932

1

After losing their parents, Eiichi and his sister Kikue are taken in by their aunt and uncle. Kikue is sent to Tokyo to work as a servant. Left alone, Eiichi wants a model airplane that a friend at school has, but finds found solace in reading the model-making instructions in a magazine that his sister sent him. One day, Eiichi gets into a fight and falls into a river, contracting pneumonia. Presumed to be a lost film.

1932

Boy Aviation Pilots

Boy Aviation Pilots 1936

1

Story of two close friends who long to become pilots in the air corps. Only one succeeds in entering the service, while the other finds a job in civilian aviation through his instructor's good offices.

1936

Chocolate Girl

Chocolate Girl 1932

1

Directed by Mikio Naruse. It is presumed to be lost.

1932