The first Chambara film was "The Fight at Hono Temple" which was released
in 1908. The director, Makino Shozo, became known as the father of
Japanese cinema. Inspired by Hollywood westerns, Japanese director Akira
Kurosawa made some of the most memorable Chambara films of all time.
These include "Seven Samurai" which was later remade in America as "The
Magnificent Seven," and "Yojimbo," which was remade as "A Fistful of
Dollars." The popular manga series, "Lone Wolf and Cub," was made into
six highly regarded Chambara epics.
During the early 1970's, Francis Parker School in Chicago ran a series of
Chambara films every weekend. Bob attended these shows with friends form
Illinois Institute of Technology where he was teaching at the time. Even
though the films were shown without subtitles, he was captivated by the
fast action and tremendous swordplay. With the huge growth of the video
tape field in the 1980's, Bob was finally able to obtain many of his
favorite Chambara movies, complete with sub-titles! Now, Chambara has
made the jump to DVD. Many Chambara films featured continued characters.
Listed below are examples of two of Bob's favorite series. He's always
interested in hearing from fellow Chambara fans.
Zatoichi is the name of a blind swordsman who wanders through 18th century
Japan. Ichi is a blind masseur and professional gambler who wanders
throughout Japan. He carries his sword inside the cane he uses to tap his
way along the streets and forest paths of the country. Because of his
gambling, Zatoichi is considered a gangster and often associates with the
gang lords who are powerful bosses of most small towns. These gang lords
are sometimes friendly to Ichi and sometimes not. Ichi is the champion of
the ordinary men and women of the towns and his sense of morals and
justice often puts him in conflict with the gang lords and the nobles of
the area. But none of them are a match for this blind swordsman who uses
his sense of hearing to detect the slightest movement of his foes.
in one particularly famous scene at the beginning of a Zatoichi film, he
is trying to sleep in an inn but is bothered by a fly that keeps on
buzzing around his face. Finally, tired of the insect's constant noise,
Zatoichi pulls his sword, cuts the fly in half, and returns the sword to
its cane sheath, all in the matter of seconds! There are more than 25
Zatoichi films starring the great Shintaro Katsu, and there was even a TV
series featuring his adventures. Some of the best films include:
THE LIFE & OPINION OF MASSEUR ICHI
THE RETURN OF MASSEUR ICHI
THE BLIND SWORDSMAN'S CANE SWORD
ZATOICHI CHALLENGED
ZATOICHI'S FLASHING SWORD
SLEEPY EYES OF DEATH
Another great Chambara series is "Sleepy Eyes of Death," the adventures of
Nemuri Kyoshiro, son of the Black Mass. His mother Japanese, his father a
foreign priest who abandoned his mother, Kyoshiro is a man with no past
and desire for no future. He is a ronin, a masterless Samurai, and he is
the master of the deadliest samurai fighting technique known, the Full
Circle Cut. Starring Ichikawa Raizo as Nemuri Kyoshiro. Among the most
stylish and exciting Samurai movies ever made. These are some of the best
films in the series.
FULL CIRCLE KILLING
SWORD OF FIRE
THE CHINESE JADE
Perhaps the most famous of all Chambara epics are the six movies that make
up the Lone Wolf and Cub series. These stories were originally done in comic
book form (manga) written by Kazuo Koike and drawn by artist, Goseki Kojima.
The story was the basis of six films starring Tomisaburo Wakayama, as well as
four plays, a TV series, and more.
When the series was originally published in Japan in 1970, it sold over 8 million
copies. The manga spanned 28 volumes, each over 300 pages, for a total of
over 8,700 pages telling the story.
The first three films, directed by Kenji Misumi, were released in 1972. They
were produced by Shintaro Katsu, the brother of Tomisaburo Wakayama
who starred in the series. Katsu was already famous as the star of the Zatoichi
series.
Lone Wolf and Cub told the story of the Shogun's finest executioner, Ogami
Itto. Disgraced by false accusations raised by the Yagyu Clan, who wanted
control of the Shogunate, Itto was forced to become an assassin. Along with
his three-year-old son, Daigoro, Itto seeks revenge against the Yagyu clan. Itto
and his son become known as "Lone Wolf and Cub."
Sword of Vengeance - the first adventure of Lone Wolf and Cub. Ogami Itto is
falsely accused of treason. He is dismissed as Royal Executioner and his wife
is murdered by assassins. He puts his baby son on the floor and gives the child
a choice - a red ball or a sword. If the child choses the red ball, Itto will know
the boy is meant to join his mother in death. If he choses the sword, the boy
will accompany his father on his mission of vengeance. The boy choses the
sword and the adventures of Lone Wolf and Cub begin.
Chambara is the name given to Japanese action films dealing with the
Feudal era of Japan. The word Chambara is slang for Japanese swordplay or
swashbuckler films. Chambara films have been popular since the beginning
of the film industry in Japan.
The first film in the series
The second film in the series
Considered one of the ten best martial
arts movies ever made.
A helpless child, a mysterious stranger, the
challenge of a lifetime!
A battle between rival Yakuza bosses with
Zatoichi in the middle. His sword is
quicker than the eye!
More adventures of Nemuri Kyoshiro, "Son of the Black Mask,"
Sword of Adventure. Kyoshiro befriends an old man who turns out to be the
Finance Commissioner for the Shogunate. The old man has to solve the
Shogunate's financial problems without overburdening the common people with
new taxes. His efforts make an enemy of the Shogun's daughter, who hires
assassins to kill the old man. But they didn't count on Nemuri Kyoshiro, the
master of the "Full Moon Cut."
Sword of Satan. The Lord of a mighty Clan fathers an illegitimate son, and he will
go to any lengths to prevent anyone learning the truth. A faithful servant, who
saved the child from certain death, appeals to Kyoshiro Nemuri for help. When
he refuses, she kills herself. To regain his lost honor, the master of the Full
Moon Cut must face the might of an entire Clan of samurai.
Sword of Seduction. A mad princess weaves a web of treachery and deceit to
ensnare Kyoshiro Nemuri in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Only Kyoshiro's
incredible skills with his deadly sword can save him from sure death.
LONE WOLF AND CUB
Baby Cart on the River Styx. The second Lone Wolf and Cub adventure. Retsudo, the mastermind of the Yagyu clan, sends the deadly female Akashi Yagyu Minjas after Ogami Itto. But no warrior can defeat Lone Wolf and Cub.
Baby Cart to Hades. Once he agrees to kill, nothing can stand in his way!
Baby Cart in Peril. Again, he kills everything!
Baby Cart in the Land of Demons. And the killing continues!
White Heaven in Hell. The final film of the series.
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