Shinshaku Yotsuya Kaidan (Parts 1 and 2) - The first notable postwar film version of the Kabuki play Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan by Nanboku Tsuruya and helmed by prolific veteran Director Keisuke Kinoshita.
A somber tale of misery and betrayal, with a vile criminal mastermind, Naosuke, planting the seeds alcoholic Ronin Iyemon would eventually carry out, the premeditated murder of his innocent wife Oiwa, a victim of circumstances connected with greed and class status which sets the stage for the ghostly haunting in the second film.
As per this classic ghost story, things are definitely not as they appear and soon enough the Ronin realizes he has made a grave mistake indeed.
Shot in beautiful black and white, offering dazzling visuals of period costumes; sets; and locations - all accompanied by a lovely, atmospheric score evoking traditional melodies on modern orchestral instruments to enhance the superb performances by some of the finest actors of their day.
This film, skillfully, methodically paced to effectively build tension, fraught with powerful emotions, spiced with eerie, uncanny events and, amidst intricately detailed backgrounds - filled with vivid characters - results in an outstanding, dark fantasy, historical period film that will haunt one's memory.
Director: Kinoshita Keisuke
Stars: Kinuyo Tanaka, Ken Uehara and Haruko Sugimura
1949 - Japanese with Optional English Subtitles - B&W - Full Screen - 158 Minutes
