12.9.25

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island(1956)

AKA Miyamoto Musashi kanketsu-hen: Kettô Ganryû-jima.
"How long must he remain a ronin?"
Musashi Miyamoto (Toshirō Mifune) returns to the farming life and finds contentment, but continues to be plagued by women problems as Otsu (Kaoru Yachigusa) and Akemi (Mariko Okada) vie for his attention. All whilst he must also contend with his nemesis, Kojiro Sasaki (Kōji Tsuruta).
The third and final film continues the journey of the famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi leading to a set piece finale.

11.9.25

samurai II: duel at ichijoji temple (1955)

AKA Zoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijô-ji no kettô
"My heart has chosen the way of the sword."
Musashi (Toshirô Mifune) is spending his time fighting duels as the lives of his old friends whirl around him and he waits to fight the samarai master Sasaki (Kōji Tsuruta).
Continuing the lifestory of the famous Japanese swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi and now the characters are all established the story can now ramp up the action whilst the master swordsman tries to find inner peace.

samurai I: musashi miyamoto

AKA Miyamoto Musashi
"We left home thinking we could become samurai so easily. What a dream."
Takezo (Toshirô Mifune) is convinced by his friend Matahachi (Rentarō Mikuni) to run away to become samurai, dreaming of the glamourous life it promises. Matahachi leaves his betrothed Otsu (Kaoru Yachigusa) with not even a backward glance and eventually runs off with a bandits wife. Meanwhile Takezo returns to the village but is by now a wanted man. Eventually he is convinced by a Buddhist priest to give himself up and the priest sets in motion his plan...
The first in a trilogy of films loosely based on the life of the famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, and tells a tale of love and loss.

10.9.25

the two faces of dr jeykll (1960)

"You vile disgusting degenerate!"
Dr. Henry Jekyll (Paul Massie) proposes that inside every human is two personalities, a theory dismissed by his colleagues. So he sets out to prove it. Tied up in his work he doesn't seem to notice his wife (Dawn Addams) is having an affair with his louche friend Paul Allen (Christopher Lee). But then Jekyll finds a formula that transforms him into the confident and handsome Edward Hyde who sets out to enjoy the sordid nightlife of London...
A well worn tale told with some panache.