Japan Synopsis
荒木又右衛門 決闘鍵屋の辻
The famous showdown at Kagiya corner has been told many times, but never before with the realism and intensity of this version scripted by Kurosawa Akira and starring Mifune Toshiro as the famed swordsman who must face his best friend as they are forced to take opposite sides in a vendetta caused by the murder of a family member. Told mostly in flashback as the avengers await the arrival of their quarry, this film displays true heroism in the face of fear as most of the combatants, while of the samurai class are not skilled swordsmen. They contrast sharply with the true warriors involved in this battle. Araki Mataemon (Mifune), who was not only a direct student of Yagyu Munenori, but the founder of his own sword style under the Yagyu name is a powerful force ready to assist his brother-in-law against the murderer's allies that include not only another noted sword teacher, but the deadly spear of Katsumi no Hanbei.
The 1951–1953 Japan Window
17 Japan films released in this three-year window, ranked here by audience rating. Vendetta of a Samurai sits at position #14.
Other Titles From TOHO
The 1950s Japan Landscape
Catalog density by release year in the 1950s. Highlighted year (yellow) is when Vendetta of a Samurai premiered. 76 total titles in this decade from Japan.
Reception Benchmarks
Ranked #2,670 of 4,579 Japan films indexed here (42nd percentile by TMDB audience score).
Among Japan Drama productions specifically: #1,177 of 1,933 (top 61%).
Production Details
| Primary Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Japanese |
| Production Companies | TOHO, Daiei Film |
| Runtime | 1h 22m |
| Release Date | January 3, 1952 |
| IMDb | tt0043707 |