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Samurai Spy [1965] (REGION 1) (NTSC)


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A lesser quality samurai movie but quite watchable, with some really original points
Review date: 2007-11-06 Rating: 8 out of 10

After watching "Kill!" and "Sword of the beast" I attacked this movie very eager to enjoy it - but I found it of a slightly lesser quality than the other two. Now, I do not regret watching it, but it really could be better. The precedent review went very far in the description of the events so I will not repeat everything - let just say, that it is year 1614 and the klans Tokugawa and Toyotomi are preparing the final battle, which will settle their dispute for ever: one will rule, another one will be destroyed. Both sides try to convince (or force) local lords to switch alliances, to collect information and also to prevent ennemy spies to reach their goals. And then, all of a sudden, it appears that one of the main intelligence coordinators of Tokugawa clan is willing to change sides, revealing all the spy network of his master to Toyotomi clan in Osaka... This triggers events described in the movie.
Now, about the weak points of this movie: the hero, Sasuki, is in principle just a simple samurai in service of one of minor lords, who still didn't commit to either of sides. He finds himself unwillingly entangled in the intrigue concerning the defection of the main Tokugawa spy. The problem is, that his motivation is totally cryptic - rather than go on with the mission he carried on the behalf of his lord, he keeps diving deeper and deeper in the trouble, when he could easily avoid it. Not only he neglects his duty, but he also falls totally in love with two different women in 48 hours... which is hard to believe. The final solution is slightly absurd and shows all the signs of "deux ex machina" used usually when the story runs in a tight corner and can not come out by its own...
The "Samurai Spy" however has also some merits. It is one of the few samurai movies to mention Japanese Christians and their persecution (and ultimately extermination) by Tokugawa clan. One of the most redoubtable characters is wearing strange, extravagant white outfit and it is only at the end we learn why is it the case... and this is quite a surprise... Some action scenes are quite good, with one or two ninja moments. One of the girls is a really sweet thing, making all by herself this movie worth watching. So - it is a quite watchable thing, but not a very memorable movie. Lower a little bit your expectations and you will probably spend quite a nice samurai evening.


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Samurai pulp fiction filled with spies and improbable action, with a noble hero and a relentless bad guy; enjoyable
Review date: 2007-07-11 Rating: 8 out of 10

To enjoy Samurai Spy, you'll find three things are helpful. First, some knowledge of Japanese history. Second, the ability to keep straight a lot of Japanese names, some of which sound alike to Western ears, such as Tatewaki and Takatani. And third, a fondness for pulp adventure stories.

So, history first...and take notes because this is important to what the story is all about. Hideyoshi Toyotomi had succeeded in unifying Japan, but he spent a lot of money and time in two brutal invasions of Korea. When he died he left a lot of unrest and a young heir, Hideyori. Ieyasu Tokugawa was a noted general, a leading supporter of Hideyoshi and one of the regents for Hideyori. He also was smart and ambitious. He managed to maneuver things in such a way that he could not be blamed when his forces and the forces supporting Hideyoshi's young son came to blows. In 1600 Tokugawa decisively beat his enemies in the great battle of Sekigahara. But now the forces of the Toyotomi, based in Osaka, are gathering their strength again. Tokugawa, shogun since Sekigahara and based in Edo, will not tolerate this and is gathering his forces. And both sides are employing ruthless spies.

Now all those names. Sarutobi Sasuki (Koji Takahashi) had been a spy for a clan allied with the Toyotomi. Now he is sick of war and has left all that behind. He is a strong man of noble character. Tatewaki Koriyama (Eiji Okada) had been a key spy for the Tokugawa but has defected to the Toyotomi. Sakon Takatani (Tetsuo Tamba) is the main spy for the Tokugawa and is determined to find and destroy Koriyama. Takatani is a master swordsman and skilled in all the ways of the spy.

The story is a kind of pulp samurai mystery-adventure. The conflicts of good and evil, of the horrors of war and the desire for a peaceful life, are played out -- and talked about a lot -- by characters who are either brave and good or who are really bad. We have Sarutobi Sasuki drawn in against his will to help protect and defend weaker men and women. He, too, is a master swordsman as well as highly skilled with the shuriken, the throwing star. He's played by an actor who is almost Hollywood pretty, a tall man with ascetic, chiseled features who looks like a combination of Ray Danton and George Nader. The relentless Sakon Takatani is always dressed in white, with a white turban-like head-covering that allows us only to see his face. He can leap from high bridges and never sprain an ankle. The search for Tatewaki Koriyama puts everyone into a boiling political stew of betrayals, murder, kidnappings, torture, family secrets, even a bit of leprosy. This is pulp fiction, but good pulp fiction. I think most people will enjoy Samurai Spy, but most probably won't remember much of it a year later. But like a good Jim Thompson tale, this just means you can enjoy it again almost as much as you did the first time.

The Criterion Region 1 DVD, one of those in Criterion's Rebel Samurai four-movie set, looks just fine. The extras include a video interview with the director and a gallery of key characters. I'd suggest you study the gallery before you watch the movie. The DVD case includes a brochure with a substantial essay on samurai movies and Masahiro Shinoda by a fellow named Alain Silver. While interesting, the essay seemed to me to take the film and the samurai genre far too seriously. There are many excellent samurai films. Samurai Spy, for me, however, is simply a good rouser with plenty of improbable action.

And one last history lesson. By 1616 Ieyasu Tokugawa finally eliminated his Toyotomi problem through a campaign of siege and trickery. Hideyori Toyotomi performed seppuku at 22. The Tokugawa shogunate lasted for 250 years in a time capsule. Then, even Tom Cruise couldn't save the samurai way after Commodore Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Eiji Okada
Rokko Toura
Jun Hamamura
Yasunori Irikawa
Misako Watanabe

Creators:
Yasunori Irikawa (Primary Contributor)
Jun Hamamura (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Criterion
Manufacturer: Criterion
EAN: 0037429209820
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2005-10-25
Universal product code (UPC): 037429209820
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1965
Language: Japanese (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)

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