The Sword of Doom

The Sword of Doom 1966

7.70

Ryunosuke, a gifted swordsman plying his trade during the turbulent final days of Shogunate rule, has no moral code and kills without remorse. It’s a way of life that leads to madness.

1966

The End of Summer

The End of Summer 1961

7.50

The family of an older man who runs a small sake brewery become concerned with his finances and his health after they discover him visiting an old mistress from his youth.

1961

A Wanderer's Notebook

A Wanderer's Notebook 1962

7.20

Considered one of the finest late Naruses and a model of film biography, A Wanderer’s Notebook features remarkable performances by Hideko Takamine – Phillip Lopate calls it “probably her greatest performance” – and Kinuyo Tanaka as mother and daughter living from hand to mouth in Twenties Tokyo. Based on the life and career of Fumiko Hayashi, the novelist whose work Naruse adapted to the screen several times, A Wanderer’s Notebook traces her bitter struggle for literary recognition in the first half of the twentieth century – her affairs with feckless men, the jobs she took to survive (peddler, waitress, bar maid), and her arduous, often humiliating attempts to get published in a male-dominated culture.

1962

Legacy of the 500,000

Legacy of the 500,000 1963

7.10

During World War II, Japan sends gold to the Phillipines. After the war, the gold is lost in the bay of Manille. Former soldier Takeichi Matsuo is now working as a business executive. He meets Mintsura Gunji, the boss of a large company, who offers him to go to the Philippines and bring back the gold.

1963

Price of Beauty

Price of Beauty 1957

1

Melodrama about a young factory girl who "chooses riches over chastity".

1957

Tenten Musume

Tenten Musume 1956

1

Based on the comic by Shosuke Kurakane. Shown in two parts.

1956

風来忍法帖

風来忍法帖 1965

1

The first of two films based on the novel by Futaro Yamada.

1965

Flower Shop Curtain

Flower Shop Curtain 1959

1

The movie depicts the strength and resilience of a woman who spent her entire life as a merchant in Semba, Osaka.

1959

The Princess of Badger Palace

The Princess of Badger Palace 1958

1

Princess Kinuta runs away from the palace because she doesn't want a marriage of convenience. Princess Kinuta, who has never left the palace, didn't enjoy communing with wildlife for long when she was chased by bandit moles and accidentally fell into the Valley of the Spider's Web. The princess and a white butterfly bound by a mysterious thread were about to be eaten by the spider queen when they are rescued by Tanukichiyo, a young wandering samurai who happens to be passing by. Historical fantasy comedy starring Hibari and Izumi.

1958

Love and Faith

Love and Faith 1978

6.30

Sen Rikyu is a ceremonial tea master who advises warlord Hideyoshi in sixteenth-century feudal Japan. His daughter, the beautiful Lady Ogin, has an unrequited love for Lord Ukon, who has angered Hideyoshi by becoming a Christian convert. Ogin's father Rikyu also displeases Hideyoshi by opposing the warlord's plan to invade China and Korea. When the animalistic Hideyoshi is rejected by Ogin, he threatens her and her father with arrest and worse.

1978

Birth of Romance

Birth of Romance 1957

1

The cabaret «Romance», run by Masami Daisaku's father, is experiencing financial difficulties, and Masami is betting on changes and asks singer Hibari Misora to perform. Musical youth comedy with young actors, passion, funny songs and laughter. Hibari Misora appears as herself.

1957

Eyes, the Sea and a Ball

Eyes, the Sea and a Ball 1967

5.00

An inspirational teacher is the focus of this Japanese drama. After his friend kills himself, Natsuki takes a teaching job on an isolated island. His new students, the children of ignorant fishermen, can see no value in education; therefore, they have no desire to learn. Natsuki then introduces the children to volleyball. The kids are immediately fired up by the game. After winning the island tourney, they go on to win the national championship. Suddenly learning has taken on a whole new dimension. Meanwhile Natsuki gets married. Unfortunately for his wife, he refuses to leave the island.

1967

The Killing Bottle

The Killing Bottle 1967

7.00

In Hong Kong an International Secret Police (ISP) Agent is murdered while investigating ZZZ, a group bent on assassinating the Prime Minister of Buddhabal. ISP Agents Carter and Kitami are assigned to the case. When the Prime Minister arrives in Tokyo for a friendship visit, Carter and Kitami are on hand to protect him. On hand, too, are assorted ZZZ blackguards. Several attempts on the Prime Minister's life fail, until finally the ZZZ introduces a new device designed to eliminate not only the Prime Minister but the ISP Agents as well: THE KILLING BOTTLE, then, is a pocket-sized container filled with a substance that can expand to thousands of times its size and throttle its victim, then disappear leaving only the corpse.

1967

Sazae-san, the Wayward Wife

Sazae-san, the Wayward Wife 1959

1

Masuo and Sazae are enjoying their newlywed life in their new house, even though they are in company housing. Masuo's colleague is invited to thank him for the newlyweds, but Masuo has been told by Managing Director Hanamura to go on a business trip to Kansai. Before long, Masuo contacted Sazae to come to Osaka.

1959

Young Guy at Sea

Young Guy at Sea 1965

1

Eternal young guy, Yuzo Kayama stars in this fifth installment of the Young Guy series. Young Guy returns to the swim team from the first movie, boards his rival Blue Guy's boat, and meets a young woman on a small island.

1965