Retro Cinemas and Cult Films in Japan

[HungFist]

I ran out of time to write reviews... There's still gonna be three more Chiba posts, but I gotta take a break now. I'll get back to it as soon as I have time, but I don't know when that will be.



To be continued...

[HungFist]

[Reserved for Chiba]

[HungFist]

[Reserved for Chiba]

[HungFist]

[Reserved for Chiba]

[HungFist]

Since it's going to take time before I can get back to Chiba I decided to move on for now. I reserved three empty posts which I can update with Chiba content later (I'll let you know then).

So, last week was in Tokyo on business, supposed go to meet some quests at the airport in the morning, and feeling pissed off for going to miss Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter (1970) on 35mm as it was playing at Ginrei Hall at the same time. Then, the Gods raised a typhoon which delayed their flight by 6 hours! Hah! Just enough for me to see the film!

Great movie of course, my second favorite in the series (after Machine Animal). Among the noteworthy things: Golden Half, a girl band whose members all consisted of half-Japanese women, playing in the club scenes (one of the members, Runa Takamura, later had a brief Roman Porno career as well with the Runa's Confession movies) and rock star Rikiya Yasuoka as the heroic male lead – he’s much better known for bad guy roles and yakuza brutes that dominated his later acting career!



I also saw Wet Sand in August (1970) by Toshiya Fujita in the same theater a few days later. It's a nice early 70s zeitgeist, but one gets the feeling it resonates best with audiences who have lived through the time period depicted in the film. In cinematic sense, unlike some of Fujita’s other films, it's hardly extraordinary. The director spent most of his career bouncing back and forth between youth dramas and crime films with similar themes. This film belongs to the former category and follows a handful of rebellious and restless youngsters hanging out on the beach and eventually heading to the sea with a stolen boat.

This was my first time visiting Ginrei Hall. They usually play semi-recent movies in double features, much like Meguro Cinema, but every once in a while they have special program and 35mm screenings. Very nice cinema with a pretty big screen, not much in terms of lobby, though, as it only takes about 4 steps from the street into the screening room. The cinema has operated since 1974.

Theater website:
http://www.ginreihall.com/

Event Page for special program:
http://www.ginreihall.com/event/index.html

[HungFist]

Oh, and for anyone wishing to visit these places I recommend doing it soon. They're not going to be around forever. Every year one or two of the best places close... I'm still gutted over Shinbashi Bunka closing.

This is what it used to look like a few months ago


This what was left a few weeks ago

[HungFist]

Finally: Chusei Sone memorial retrospective in Cinema Vera (same theater as Chiba fest) in Tokyo. November 29 - December 26. 24 films to be screened. I couldn't say no. Reserved a three day trip to catch Red Violation (1980) and couple of others.
http://www.cinemavera.com/preview.php?no=150

Hakuchu no onnagari (1984) and Red Violation (1980)


Modern Prostitution: Lust Under a Uniform (1974) and Secret Chronicle: Crimson Goddess In Paradise (1973)


Super Gun Lady (1979) and Delinquent Girl: Alleycat In Heat (1973)


Hakuchu no onnagari (1984) and Red Violation (1980)


Super Gun Lady (1979) and Hellish Love (1972)


Taiyo no kizuato apparently played as a double feature with a Jackie Chan film at the time it was released


And Hideo Gosha retro at the same time in Shin Bungeiza!

[HungFist]

Well, isn't this nice. I just found out there's something called Kawasaki Museum in Kawasaki (very near Tokyo, 30 min by train from Shibuya) and they play movies, too! They're now screening Toei yakuza films on 35mm! Gonna drop by next time when I'm in Tokyo (which is in two weeks).

Preliminary plan for my visit:

Saturday:
15:15 Tatsuya Nakadai talk event (Shin Bungeiza)
16:10 Goyokin (1969) (Hideo Gosha, 35mm) (Shin Bungeiza)
18:40 Onimasa (Hideo Gosha, 1982) (35mm) (Shin Bungeiza)

Sunday
11:30 Cops vs. Thugs (Kinji Fukasaku, 1975) (35mm) (Kawasaki Museum)
14:00 Yakuza Graveard (Kinji Fukasaku, 1976) (35mm) (Kawasaki Museum)
16:50 Red Violation (Chusei Sone, 1980) (35mm) (Cinema Vera)
18:15 Angel Guts: Red Classroom (Chusei Sone, 1979) (35mm) (Cinema Vera)

Monday
09:50 Three Outlaw Samurai (Hideo Gosha, 1964) (35mm) (Shin Bungeiza)
11:35 Cash Calls Hell (1966) (Hideo Gosha, 35mm) (Shin Bungeiza)
14:05 Hatakko junjo (Chusei Sone, 1978) (35mm) (Cinema Vera)
15:50 Delinquent Girl: Alleycat In Heat (Chusei Sone, 1973) (35mm) (Cinema Vera)

[Guro Taku]

I'm loving the poster for RED VIOLATION! May have to buy one for my wall.

[HungFist]

With two legends of Japanese cinema dead within two weeks (Takakura and Sugawara) it was great to see another legend still in pretty good health. Shin Bungeiza was having a Hideo Gosha retrospective to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Gosha's debut film Three Outlaw Samurai, and the first guest was none other than Tatsuya Nakadai. The 81 year old actor held a 45 minute talk event during the first day when Goyokin (1969) and Onimasa (1982) were screened. Nakadai shared his memories and opinions of working with Gosha, how it was cold as hell when they were shooting Goyokin, how Japanese cinema lost one of the last true legends when Takakura died (Sugawara died two days later), and other stuff. Although he said he's starting to feel his age, he certainly hadn't lost his sense of humour. Needless to say, the theater was packed with people who came to see him and have him long applauds.



As usual, the theater was decorated with posters and memorabilia Gosha films

Goyokin and Onimasa, both starring Nakadai


Three Outlaw Samurai and Cash Calls Hell


Three Outlaw Samurai


Hideo Gosha




Seeing Goyokin from a pristine 35mm print on Shin Bungeiza's 10 metre screen was beyond epic. Fantastic movie with gorgeous locations, haunting score and great performance by Nakadai. Three Outlaw Samurai and Cash Calls Hell were nearly as great experiences as well. Onimasa is not bad either - Nakadai's manic performance especially is enjoyable - though it pales in comparison to the yakuza films of the 1970s.

[HungFist]

Pictures from the Chusei Sone Festival (Cinema Vera, Tokyo)

Theater lobby. Only guys in this photo, but there was a blond girl + a few Japanese ladies in Red Violation


Red Violation (1980), Teacher Deer (1978), Supergun Lady Wani Bunsho (1979)


Hostess Confidential: Three Juicy Sisters (1975) and Hellish Love (1972)


Angel Guts: Red Classroom (1979), Delinquent Girl: Alleycat In Heat (1973) and three posters for Red Violation (1980)


Three posters for Angel Guts: Red Classroom (1979) + Delinquent Girl: Alleycat In Heat (1973) and Red Violation (1980)


Teacher Deer (1978) and two posters for Hostess Confidential: Three Juicy Sisters (1975)


Three posters for Red Violation (1980), Hatakko junjo (1978) and two posters for Secret Chronicle: Prostitution Market (1972)


Taiyo no kizuato (1981)


Love Bandit Rat Man (1972) and Taiyo no kizuato (1981)


Modern Prostitution: Lust Under Uniform (1974) and Love Bandit Rat Man (1972)


Hostess Confidential: Three Juicy Sisters (1975), 100 High School Girls: Secret Motel Report (1975) and Supergun Lady Wani Bunsho (1979)


Sigh 2 (1974), Showa Woman: Naked Rashomon (1973) and Hostess Confidential: Three Juicy Sisters (1975)


As for the films, I hope to write more later, but Taiyo no kizuato (1981) was terrific. It's got everything a good youth flick needs: sex, bikes, car chases, surfing, disco scenes, and Kahori Takeda. It's probably the best film I've seen from Sone. Red Violation (1980) is great, too. A very enjoyable zeitgest that follows the 1980s rock band Devils (played by the real members, including the gaijin member James Hunt in a pretty big role). It's a film that could've been done by ATG just as well. A bit of sex, nice characters, and tons of great music (the film ends with a terrific 10 minute scene where the band is composing and practicing their new song). Note that the reviews by Weisser and Firsching are fabricated. And Modern Prostitution: Lust Under Uniform (1974) was a positive surprise: a stylishly shot grindhouse/arthouse slice of life drama that resembled Tanaka's Secret Chronicle: She-Beast Market + had hot gals with amazing boobs.

Saw a few others, too, but too tired to write now. Except that avoid Delinquent Girl: Alleycat In Heat (1973)! Like plague. Unless you suffer from insomnia!

[HungFist]

I was in Tokyo during the weekend...







Didn't stay night there though... not with my budget. Capsule for me as usual

Video:
https://youtu.be/EMgujv90Y1o

[HungFist]

I was supposed to be in Tokyo right now, but I found out 10 minutes before I went to sleep the night before the flight that Nobuhiko Obayashi all night event is sold out! Fuck! I didn't even stand a chance to get a ticket because they were only sold from the theatre.

I had this ridiculous/genius plan to watch Obayashi flicks until 5am, then take the first train to the airport, fly back home and celebrate by girlfriend's birthday. But with no Obayashi I decided to call off the whole trip.

I guess I should be happy I didn't find myself in Takadanobaba in the middle of the night with neither tickets nor accommodation. Still, can't help but to feel pretty gutted for missing House, and some non-Obayashi stuff I was supposed to see, like Taifu Club on 35mm...

Oh well, another try next month when Cinema Vera is having Meiko Kaji retro, Jinbocho is having manga adaptation live action film special, National Film Centre is screening Takakura and Sugawara flicks, and Laputa plays 1960s Toei crime films.

The following films (and more) are screening within a period of 6 days. All 35mm of course.

[HungFist]

Meiko Kaji film festival

Festival poster


Front


Yakuza Graveyard (1976), Dômyaku rettô (1975), Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter


Women's Police (1969), Kyoka retsuden shumei tobaku (1969), Dômyaku rettô (1975)


Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)


Lady Snowblood (1973)


Double Suicide of Sonezaki (1978), Nihon zankyoden (1969), Monument to the Girl's Corps (1968)


Female Prisoner Scorpion: Grudge Song (1974)


Posting from a capsule hotel... more movies tomorrow!

[HungFist]

Here's what I would consider one of the best discoveries I've done this year, seen in Laputa Asagaya a few months ago

Car 33 Doesn't Answer (33 gosha otonashi) (1955)

A terrific, gritty crime film follows two policemen riding around Tokyo in their patrol car, picking up drunks, hookers, junkies and killers on what seems like a never-ending Christmas night. They finally run into professional criminals who highjack their car and take them as hostage. This is a realistic, atmospheric film that beautifully captures the post-war streets of Tokyo on film while also telling a great story with excellent characters. Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece High & Low would be a good comparison point; however, it's remarkable how much time director Senkichi Taniguchi spends documenting the policemen's everyday work and encounters with random people before turning on the plot gear. A rarely seen gem entirely worthy of a Criterion release. Unfortunately it has never been released on DVD even in Japan.

A few images from the film:



And some artwork and pictures related to the film from the theatre:






The film played in Ryo Ikebe retrospective, which also contained a few dozen other movies, like Gorath and Pale Flower (the poster in the photo below).





That weekend I also visited Meguro Cinema where they had a double feature consisting of The Youth Killer (1976) and Ryuji (1983). Unfortunately I'm no fan of Ryuji: I think it's a prime example of the tiresome Japanese 1980s "serious" gangster cinema where action and exploitation were replaced with uninspired drama and realistic characters who spent most of the film sitting in the kitchen because life is hard. The Youth Killer is an interesting film with a mixture of gritty realism, social commentary, and highly theatrical acting. At the same time, however, it's a hard film to stomach with almost no entertainment value whatsoever except for Mieko Harada`s naked body, some very darkly humoristic moments, and a great soundtrack by Godiego. Very much an arthouse film for the arthouse crowd, and not a feel-good film in the least.

[HungFist]

Here's a bit more on Taiyo no kizuato, which I saw at the Sone festival last year



Taiyo no kizuato (1981)
The year 1981 saw two modern sun tribe films hit the screens almost simultaneously. Kichitaro Negishi's brilliant updating of Crazed Fruit (1956) was released by Nikkatsu in April. Chusei Sone's Taiyo no kizuato came out already bit earlier from Toei. The excellent youth film follows a delinquent boy who runs into his shy little brother, and his innocent girlfriend, for the first time in 11 years. He brings them to his beach crib where he's having fun with his no-good friends. This initiates an interesting psychological game where the big brother never seems quite sure if he wants to protect or destroy his brother's innocence. The film also packs literally every single genre cliché in the most enjoyable form: car chases, boat chases, motorcycles, fist fighting, sex, nudity, disco scenes, and rock music. Ken Ogata has a terrific supporting role as the main character's father, an alcoholic university professor who is constantly holding parties and couldn't care less if his son has raped some random girl or not. Probably director Sone's best film, but unfortunately this too has never been released on DVD or VHS.

A few stills from the film






I also bought the original pamphlet for it






The film was originally released as a double feature with Shaolin Wooden Men, so the pamphlet also dedicates (more than) half of the pages for the Jackie Chan film




And here's a few more words about Red Violation.

Red Violation (1980)
This is one of Chusei Sone's best films, a terrific music docudrama released in the Roman Porno series, but actually far more fit for Art Theatre Guild's catalogue. The film follows the real life rock band Devils, played by the band's members, as they perform on clubs, compose new songs, and have their misadventures in private life. The film concludes in an utterly fantastic 10 minute scene where when band is practicing and refining their new song, which must be one of the best scenes of its kind ever filmed. Also of interest is that this is one of the few Japanese movies that dedicates a large portion of the film to an American cast member, The Devils member James Hunt, whose character is treated with no prejudice at all. On the minus side, the lack of strong plot, as well as a few unnecessary sex scenes, sometimes slow the film down a bit. A very strong slice of life picture that beautifully captures its era. Unfortunately, this film too has never been released on DVD or VHS.

Unfortunately there is very little image material available to post.

Here are two stills



Here's an cover for one Devil's records. James Hunt is the guy on the left


Another cover (Hunt on the left again). This these songs are also in the film


And here's the poster one more time. I think this is a beauty, even though in typical Nikkatsu fashion they've put a girl who plays a suppporting role (Megumi Saki) in the front (and what is she holding in her hand... a whip? Certainly has nothing to do with the film) and the guys who star in it in the back.



I originally intended to write more about both films, but it doesn't seem like I'll ever find the time...

[HungFist]

Another one bites the dust. Pink theater Shin Sekai Nikkatsu in Osaka to close down September 30, 2015. Interestingly enough, they state the reason for the closure is (not bad business but rather) customers who lack common sense. They don't explain in more detail what that means...

I've never visited the place, but they played pink films by both Nikkatsu and other studios. It seems the program was geared at the the more typical pink film audience rather that film buffs like in Shimbashi Bunka (R.I.P). You actually can see the difference quite well if you compare their final weekend programs: Shimbashi Bunka played films by Kichitaro Negishi, Noboru Tanaka, Tatsumi Kumashiro and Yasuharu Hasebe; Shin Sekai Nikkatsu plays an S&M triple feature.

[HungFist]

Laputa Asagaya will hold a Kazuhiko Yamaguchi retrospective from Oct 2015 to Jan 2016. The films included are:

Delinquent Girl Boss: Worthless to Confess (1971)
Wolfguy: Enraged Lycanthrope (1975)
Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread (1974)
Which Is Stronger, Karate Or the Tiger? (1976)
A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse (Bakeneko Toruko furo) (1975)
Karate Warriors (1976)
The Neon City (Neon kurage: Shinjuku hanadensha) (1973)
The Tragedy in The Devil-Mask Village (Tarao Bannai: Kimen mura no sangeki) (1978)
Oh Wonderful Utamaro! (Shikojo toruko nikki) (1974)
The Karate Professionals (Sekai Saikyo no Kakutogi - Satsujin Karate) (1976)
Big Magnum Kuroiwa Sensei (1985)

All in 35mm.

I'm gonna try to drop by at least twice, but I'm waiting for other theatres to announce their program before I decide dates and book flights. I really wanted to go see Wolfguy again, but the timing is bad and I already saw it three times in 35mm last year. I'm probably going to try to see both Turkish Bath films as those are the rarest of the bunch.

And completely unrelated, here's a chirashi for Masaru Konuma retro held in Cinema Vera later this month


via japanmovieposters

There's an alarming amount of DVD screenings included. 8 films are screened from DVD vs. 10 from 35mm. That sucks, even though those all are double features, and the prices are so cheap that you can consider it a ticket for one screening + free DVD screening as a bonus.

Earlier this year at the Tatsumi Kumashiro retro they screened 6 films in "Digital" (it doesn't specify whether they were DCP or DVD or what) and 18 from 35mm; last year at Chusei Sone retro it was 5 "Digital" vs. 19 from 35mm.

[HungFist]

In case anyone is interested, I scanned a few chirashi. Starting with Cinema Vera. Click on the image to see the full size version

Sonny Chiba Retrospective (Cinema Vera)




Meiko Kaji Retrospective (Cinema Vera)




Director Chusei Sone Retrospective (Cinema Vera)




Screenwriter Fumio Konami Retrospective (Cinema Vera)




For those who can't read katakana.
35mm = 35mm Screening
ニュープリント = New Print (35mm)
デジタル = Digital Screening

Anyone who comes across me, feel free to kick me in the balls for missing the Fumio Konami retrospective. They had Yakuza Wolf...

[HungFist]

And here's a few more. This time from Laputa Asagaya. Click on the image to see the full size version

Sukeban Deka: The Movie Special (Laputa Asagaya)


Yoidore hakase / Yoidore hatoba Special (Laputa Asagaya)


Tsunehiko Watase Retrospective (Laputa Asagaya)


Female Prisoner Retrospective (Laputa Asagaya)


Director Akira Kato Retrospective (Laputa Asagaya)




Rare Nikkatsu Films Retrospective (Laputa Asagaya)






Laputa doesn't write the screening format because it's always 35mm unless otherwise specified.

[HungFist]

Laputa Asagaya updated their page for the Kazuhiko Yamaguchi Retrospective which started today. There's no adjectives to descibe the beauty of it! Planning to catch at least Karate Warriors and the two Turkish Bath films. I'd love to see Wolfguy again, too, but the timing is bad and I already saw it three times last year.

http://www.laputa-jp.com/laputa/program ... ikazuhiko/

[HungFist]

More Laputa Asagaya Chirashi scans

Etsuko Shihomi Retrospective


NTV Tuesday 9 P.M. The Movie Special




Art Theatre Guild Era Retrospective






Ryo Ikebe Retrospective







Also, for anyone interested, National Film Centre in Tokyo will be running a Kenji Misumi retrospective from January 5 to March 13. Since NFC always screens two films per day, six days a week, and runs the program twice, that means there should be 66 movies included. Misumi directed 67 movies on his career (according to JMDB), so we can expect pretty much every film he directed to be included. The program has not been announced yet, though. NFC is slow at updating their site, so I wouldn't expect the program to appear before mid December.

[HungFist]

My first visit to the Kazuhiko Yamaguchi Retrospective in Laputa Asagaya.

Advertisement outside the theatre


Entrance to the theatre. The screening room is in the 2nd floor. The atmospheric lobby is on the right in the 1st floor


Thursday: Poster for A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse (Bakeneko Toruko furo) (1975)


A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse was a bit like a dress rehearsal for Wolfguy (1975), only different genre and a bit less outrageous. Nikkatsu actress Naomi Tani is the star of the first third, playing a poor wife tricked by evil husband Hideo Murota to work in a brothel. She's eventually killed by Murota and his lover, but her spirit returns to haunt them, first as a cat, and then as a white faced creature that looks like a runway cast member from a CATS musical. Boobs, violence, supernatural horror that isn't scary in the least, ultra-funky score, occasional apocalyptic sunsets, and bloody cat attacks (where the evidently bored and not-aggressive-at-all cat is being thrown through the air by the staff). It's a fun film and never boring, but the climax isn't quite as far-out as one would wish, especially when compared to the amazing Wolfguy. Consider it Yamaguchi's House-lite, Toei Porno style.

Saturday: The Neon City (Neon kurage: Shinjuku hanadensha) (1973)


The staff apparently put the wrong poster on display by accident (would not be the first time). Or perhaps they just couldn't obtain the correct poster. This week's film was Karate Warriors (Kozure Satsujin Ken).

Most people here are probably familiar with this solid karate actioner that is literally a mix of Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Okami) and The Street Fighter (Satsujin Ken) + Yojimbo of course. Chiba is a wandering karate warrior who arrives a town ruled by two competing gangs. Isao Natsuyagi co-stars as a samurai bodyguard with a cub. Passable story, some interesting ninkyo film like character relationships, and plenty of great action.

It was a near pristine print, but the slow motion action bits looked a bit strange, just like they do on the US DVD. Oh, and the Japanese print is a bit different from the US version. Some scenes are in different order (e.g. the JP version opens with the slow-mo fight and then plays the opening credits as Chiba arrived the violent town... in the US version the fight comes much later) and some of the music was probably different.

I was so happy that my gf also liked the film. A 70s karate film is about the last thing she'd normally end up seeing, by she genuinely thought it was alright. Though I'm sure she liked the previous day's visit to Disneyland better...

You probably noticed the T-shirts before. Laputa had a bunch of Sonny Chiba and Etsuko Shihomi T-shirts for sale!


These are by a company called Hard Core Chocolate, and they have quite a few nice shirts. You can also get them via their website. The site is in Japanese, but it seems they deliver worldwide and you can pay by Paypal.

I bought myself this one!


And finally, here's the program chirashi


+

Of course other retrospectives were also being held at the same time.

The morning show was dedicated to actress Hiromi Nozoe. Poster for 女のつり橋 (1961)


And the massive daytime slot was for family films

[Guro Taku]

A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse was a bit like a dress rehearsal for Wolfguy (1975), only different genre and a bit less outrageous. Nikkatsu actress Naomi Tani is the star of the first third, playing a poor wife tricked by evil husband Hideo Murota to work in a brothel. She's eventually killed by Murota and his lover, but her spirit returns to haunt them, first as a cat, and then as a white faced creature that looks like a runway cast member from a CATS musical. Boobs, violence, supernatural horror that isn't scary in the least, ultra-funky score, occasional apocalyptic sunsets, and bloody cat attacks (where the evidently bored and not-aggressive-at-all cat is being thrown through the air by the staff). It's a fun film and never boring, but the climax isn't quite as far-out as one would wish, especially when compared to the amazing Wolfguy. Consider it Yamaguchi's House-lite, Toei Porno style.

怪猫トルコ風呂 looks and sounds just utterly amazing and of course it's never been on any home video format! It can now go on and fill the void left behind by the DVD releases of Horros of Malformed Men and 女獄門帖 引き裂かれた尼僧 (both Torn Priestess and Nuns That Bite seriously suck as English titles) as #1 Toei exploitation flick I must see before I die. Also I need that poster on my wall.

[HungFist]

Also, for anyone interested, National Film Centre in Tokyo will be running a Kenji Misumi retrospective from January 5 to March 13. Since NFC always screens two films per day, six days a week, and runs the program twice, that means there should be 66 movies included. Misumi directed 67 movies on his career (according to JMDB), so we can expect pretty much every film he directed to be included. The program has not been announced yet, though. NFC is slow at updating their site, so I wouldn't expect the program to appear before mid December.

The program is out. 51 movies (35mm) + episodes for 6 TV shows (16mm)
http://www.momat.go.jp/fc/exhibition/mi ... section1-2

Cinema Vera also released program for their Noboru Tanaka retrospective:
http://www.cinemavera.com/preview.php?no=167

20 movies. 5 digital, 15 film. As expected, no Pink Salon (as Nikkatsu has pulled all Machiko Ohtani movies from distribution).

Planning to visit both retrospectives.