Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site loral.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!sdcc6!loral!ian From: ian@loral.UUCP (Ian Kaplan) Newsgroups: net.movies Subject: Re: Obscure films Message-ID: <783@loral.UUCP> Date: Thu, 7-Feb-85 19:50:19 EST Article-I.D.: loral.783 Posted: Thu Feb 7 19:50:19 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 11-Feb-85 07:57:51 EST References: <3744@ucla-cs.ARPA> Reply-To: ian@loral.UUCP (Ian Kaplan) Organization: Loral Instrumentation, San Diego Lines: 57 Summary: I am a fan of Japanese Samurai films. I am not refering to the sex-steel and blood films, but the well done movies by Inagaki and Kirasowa. Considering what I may have just done to the names of these great men, I should appologize in advance for my misspelling of Japanese names and words. All I can hope is the words and names are spelled phonetically. Japanese films are not really obscure, but if Peter Reiher can include Heaven's Gate in his list they seem fair game. Chushingura Again let me appologize for what is probably a mispelling of the name. Chushingura is about a Japanese Lord named Asano who is given the duty of entertaining the Emperor's envoy when he travels through that part of Japan. This is considered both a great honor and a great responsibility. The proper forms must be followed or Asano will be dishonored. To aid Asano in his duty the Shogun sends his Chamberlain who is versed in the proper forms. The Chamberlain expects Asano to pay him a bribe for the information he will need to entertain the Emperor's envoy properly. Asano refuses to pay this bribe, since to do so runs counter to the Samurai code of honor. The Chamberlain must perform his duty however, since the Shogun has entrusted him with the task of making sure that things go well during the visit. In revenge the Chamberlain bates Asano and repeatedly insults him. Finally, when the Emperor's envoy has arrived, he bates Asano past all endurance. Asano draws his sword and attacks the Chamberlain. Although he wounds him, Asano does not kill him. In attacking the Chamberlain Asano has commited the capitol offence of drawing a sword in the presance of the envoy. The Shogun forces Asano to commit Supuko (ritual suicide). As a result of Asano's "crime" all of his vassals are made Ronin (masterless samurai). The rest of the movie concerns the plot by Asano's retainers to fulfill their obligation to avenge Asano's death, since the Chamberlain still lives. Chushingura is a fantastic movie. It is well filmed and the acting is good. The story is complex however and I found that I had to see the movie twice before I really understood what was going on. This story is also know as "The Forty-Seven Ronin". The Samurai Trilogy This is a set of three movies which cover the career of Musahi Miamoto, who is most famous in the US for having written "The Book of Three Rings". Musahi is reputed to have been the greatest swordsman in Japanese history. The Samurai Trilogy follows Musahi's career from his start as a country bumpkin to his last climatic duel. Ian Kaplan Loral Data Flow Group Loral Instrumentation (619) 560-5888 x4812 USENET: {ucbvax,ihnp4}!sdcsvax!sdcc6!loral!ian ARPA: sdcc6!loral!ian@UCSD USPS: 8401 Aero Dr. San Diego, CA 92123