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Kenji Mizoguchi

What members say | Filmography

Kenji Mizoguchi - what members say

Sansho Dayu & Gion Bayashi review by BrindleyBeBarassedboutBombsquare from Cardiff

Catherine Cookson? Paaahh 18 December 2010
...chi must be blind. Oh, and who is this Yoshida blokey? This film is directed by Kenji Mizoguchi! Anyway, to the film. It is a part of his great historical triptych, the other... Read customer review

Akasen Chitai / Yokihi review by Savage from London, England

Classic Mizoguchi 17 September 2008
...The last two films the great Kenji Mizoguchi directed are here put together in another extremely intelligent, well-presented package by Eureka. Like the other double bills in... Read customer review

Kenji Mizoguchi - filmography

Shin-Heike Monogatari (1955)
Starring: Raizô Ichikawa, Michiyo Kogure, Eijirô Yanagi
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Special Forces commander Captain Tadamori returns to Kyoto after successfully defeating the uprising of pirates in the western sea of Japan. But because the high courtiers dislike career soldiers gaining power and influence, they ignore the will of ex-Emperor Toba and refuse to reward the captain. ..read more »

80% from 2 members
Currently unavailable

Akasen Chitai / Yokihi (2 discs) (1955)
Starring: Machiko Kyo, Aiko Mimasu, Masayuki Mori
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Akasen Chitai [Red Light District, aka Street of Shame] sadly, the very last film by Kenji Mizoguchi (Sansho Dayu, Ugetsu Monogatari) presents a vivid portrait of prostitution in 1950s Japan. In a Tokyo brothel named Dreamland an obvious irony given the faded hopes of those who work there the lives ..read more »

72% from 186 members
Not available for rental

Sansho Dayu (1954)
Starring: Kinuyo Tanaka, Michiyo Kogure, Yoshiaki Hanayagi
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
'Sansho Dayu'follows an aristocratic woman, Tamaki (Tanaka Kinuyo) and her two children, Zushio (Hanayagi Yoshiaki) and Anju (Kagawa Kyoko), who are parted from Tamaki's husband when he finds himself in trouble with the feudal powers for treating peasants with kindness. When the children are ..read more »

78% from 216 members
Not available for rental

Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
Starring: Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyoko Kagawa
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
In mediaeval Japan a compassionate governor is sent into exile. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.

82% from 162 members
Currently unavailable

Chikamatsu Monogatari / Uwasa No Onna (2 discs) (1954)
Starring: Kyoko Kagawa, Kazuo Hasegawa, Kinuyo Tanaka
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Based on a centuries old tale with roots in real events, Chikamatsu Monogatari tells the hauntingly tragic story of a forbidden love affair between a merchant's wife, Osan (Kyoko Kagawa), and her husband's employee, Mohei (Kazuo Hasegawa), in an era when the punishment for adultery was crucifixion. ..read more »

74% from 289 members
Not available for rental

Ugetsu Monogatari / Oyu-Sama (2 discs) (1953)
Starring: Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyo, Kinuyo Tanaka
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Ugetsu Monogatar: Mizoguchi's Ugetsu Monogatari [Tales of the Rain and Moon] is a highly acclaimed masterwork of Japanese cinema. Based on a pair of 18th century ghost stories by Ueda Akinari. Amidst the pandemonium of civil war, potter Genjuro (Mori Masayuki) and samurai-aspirant Tobei (Ozawa ..read more »

74% from 982 members
Not available for rental

Gion Bayashi (1953)
Starring: Kinuyo Tanaka, Michiyo Kogure, Yoshiaki Hanayagi
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
'Gion Bayashi' (1953) is a drama set in the world of the courtesan. Eiko (Wakao Ayako) is a 16-year old orphan, while Miyoharu (Kogure Michiyo) is the geisha who agrees to be her mentor.

76% from 130 members
Not available for rental

Sansho Dayu & Gion Bayashi (2 discs) (1953)
Starring: Kinuyo Tanaka, Michiyo Kogure, Yoshiaki Hanayagi
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Based on an ancient legend, as recounted by celebrated author Mori Ogai (in his short story of the same name, written in 1915), and adapted by Japanese director Mizoguchi Kenji, Sansho Dayu is both distinctively Japanese and as deeply affecting as a Greek tragedy. Described in its opening title as "..read more »

78% from 398 members
Not available for rental

The Life Of Oharu on DVD (1952)
Starring: Kinuyo Tanaka, Toshiro Mifune
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
The story chronicles the decline through exile, concubinage and prostitution of Oharu Okui. Her sufferings and treatment are analysed until she is finally discarded like an inanimate object. Japanese dialogue with subtitles.

70% from 1,358 member

The Lady Of Musashino on DVD (1951)
Starring: Masayuki Mori, So Yamamura, Yukiko Todoroki
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Lady Musashino falls in love with her cousin when she discovers her husband's infidelity.

67% from 641 members

Mizoguchi Collection - Utamaro And His F... on DVD (1946)
Starring: Minosuke Bandô, Kinuyo Tanaka, Kotaro Bando
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Utamaro and His Five Women: (1946) offers a semi-autobiographical portrait of the Japanese artist, Kitagawa Utamaro. Utamaro (Minosuke Bandô), renowned for his portraits of women, finds many of his subjects in Tokyo's brothels. However, will his philandering ways lead him into trouble?

71% from 15 members

The Mizoguchi Collection - Blu-ray - Uta... (1946)
Starring: Minosuke Bando, Kinuyo Tanaka, Kotaro Bando
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Utamaro and His Five Women: (1946) offers a semi-autobiographical portrait of the Japanese artist, Kitagawa Utamaro. Utamaro (Minosuke Bandô), renowned for his portraits of women, finds many of his subjects in Tokyo's brothels. However, will his philandering ways lead him into trouble?

52% from 12 members

The 47 Ronin - Parts 1 And 2 (1941)
Starring: Yoshizaburo Arashi, Utaemon Ichikawa, Daisuke Kato
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Renowned by postwar scholars, "The 47 Ronin" is director Kenji Mizoguchi's (Ugetsu) poetic and complex retelling of a classic Japanese legend. Loyal samurai plot righteous revenge on the scheming official responsible for the dishonor and execution of their honorable samurai Lord.

71% from 14 members
Currently unavailable

The Mizoguchi Collection - Blu-ray - The... (1939)
Starring: Shôtarô Hanayagi, Kokichi Takada, Gonjuro Kawarazaki
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum: (1939) follows Kikunsoke Onoue (Shôtarô Hanayagi), a young actor who is shocked to discover that people have only been patronising him by saying that he is talented. The only person who seems willing to tell him the truth about his acting to his face is Otoku (..read more »

69% from 16 members

Mizoguchi Collection - The Story Of The ... on DVD (1939)
Starring: Shotaro Hanayagi, Kokichi Takada, Gonjuro Kawarazaki
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum: (1939) follows Kikunsoke Onoue (Shôtarô Hanayagi), a young actor who is shocked to discover that people have only been patronising him by saying that he is talented. The only person who seems willing to tell him the truth about his acting to his face is Otoku (..read more »

76% from 23 members

Mizoguchi Collection - Osaka Elegy on DVD (1936)
Starring: Isuzu Yamada, Seiichi Takegawa, Chiyoko Okura
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Osaka Elegy: (1936) relates the story of a young woman, Ayako Murai (Isuzu Yamada), who engages in a series of affairs to raise money for her family. Initially, she embarks on a relationship with her boss to obtain the money to stop her father going to prison for embezzlement. However, when she ..read more »

63% from 18 members

Mizoguchi Collection - Sisters Of The Gion on DVD (1936)
Starring: Isuzu Yamada, Yoko Umemura, Benkei Shiganoya
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Sisters of the Gion: (1936) focuses on two geisha sisters who have differing attitudes to men. Umekichi (Yôko Umemura) believes so strongly in loyalty that she wants to help her lover, Furusawa (Benkei Shiganoya), when he is abandoned by his wife. In contrast, her sister, Omocha (Isuzu Yamada), ..read more »

75% from 12 members

The Mizoguhi Collection - Blu-ray - Sist... (1936)
Starring: Isuzu Yamada, Yoko Umemura, Benkei Shiganoya
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Sisters of the Gion: (1936) focuses on two geisha sisters who have differing attitudes to men. Umekichi (Yôko Umemura) believes so strongly in loyalty that she wants to help her lover, Furusawa (Benkei Shiganoya), when he is abandoned by his wife. In contrast, her sister, Omocha (Isuzu Yamada), ..read more »

64% from 15 members

The Mizoguhi Collection - Blu-ray - Osak... (1936)
Starring: Isuzu Yamada, Seiichi Takegawa, Chiyoko Okura
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Osaka Elegy: (1936) relates the story of a young woman, Ayako Murai (Isuzu Yamada), who engages in a series of affairs to raise money for her family. Initially, she embarks on a relationship with her boss to obtain the money to stop her father going to prison for embezzlement. However, when she ..read more »

61% from 16 members

The Mizoguchi Collection (4 discs) on DVD
Starring: Minosuke Bandô, Isuzu Yamada, Shôtarô Hanayagi
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Four films from the celebrated Japanese director; Osaka Elegy, The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum, Sisters of the Gion, Utamaro and His Five Women.

66% from 10 members

The Mizoguhi Collection - Blu-ray (4 discs)
Starring: Minosuke Bandô, Isuzu Yamada, Shôtarô Hanayagi
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Certificate:
Four films from the celebrated Japanese director; Osaka Elegy, The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum, Sisters of the Gion, Utamaro and His Five Women.

51% from 10 members

Kenji Mizoguchi facts

5 most recent films

Shin-Heike Monogatari - 4.0 stars
Akasen Chitai / Yokihi - 3.5 stars
Sansho Dayu - 4.0 stars
Sansho the Bailiff - 4.0 stars
Chikamatsu Monogatari / Uwasa No Onna - 3.5 stars

5 highest-rated films

Sansho the Bailiff - 4.0 stars
Sansho Dayu - 4.0 stars
Sansho Dayu & Gion Bayashi - 4.0 stars
Gion Bayashi - 4.0 stars
Chikamatsu Monogatari / Uwasa No Onna - 3.5 stars

5 lowest-rated films

The Mizoguhi Collection - Blu-ray - 2.5 stars
The Mizoguchi Collection - Blu-ray - Utamaro And His Five Women - 2.5 stars
The Mizoguhi Collection - Blu-ray - Osaka Elegy - 3.0 stars
Mizoguchi Collection - Osaka Elegy - 3.0 stars
The Mizoguhi Collection - Blu-ray - Sisters Of The Gion - 3.0 stars

Most frequent co-stars

Kinuyo Tanaka - 9 times - show films
Isuzu Yamada - 6 times - show films
Benkei Shiganoya - 4 times - show films
Yoshiaki Hanayagi - 4 times - show films
Michiyo Kogure - 4 times - show films