Kedamono No Ken - Legendary
swordplay filmmaker Hideo Gosha's Sword of the Beast chronicles the flight of
Gennosuke, a minor clan Samurai who is tricked under the banner of "reform,"
into assassinating a high-ranking minister. He has been promised position and
prestige for his bold act. Instead, his sponsor soon turns on him, claiming no
knowledge of the plot and demands Gennosuke's death.
Realizing his "Samurai Honor" is a house of cards, he flees
into the wilderness, determined to become a beast, living only for himself.
Pursued by his former comrades, each hoping to complete the vendetta put on
Gennosuke by the clan, he scrambles only to live, refusing to play his role and
lay down and die.
Encountering the Master Swordsman Yamane, another idealistic
Samurai who is being played the fool by another clan, Gennosuke is determined to
enlighten Yamane and his pretty wife before they too become beasts, abandoned
and betrayed.
Well-composed and thoughtful cinematography, Sword of the
Beast gives a cynical view of authority, human drama, and OF COURSE, some
excellent swordplay!
Directed by HIDEO GOSHA
Starring: Mikijiro Hira, Go Kato, Shima Iwashita
1965 - JAPANESE with OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES - 16:9
ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN - B&W - 90 MINUTES
