I saw
Samurai Wolf (1966) yesterday and Damn I was impressed. It wasn’t the first Gosha movie I saw, maybe not even the best, but it sure was a terrific movie. It’s basically a samurai spaghetti western. I’ve never seen a samurai movie that comes this close to Leone before. The film is filled spaghetti imagery and sounds. A bit surprisingly for such old film the action scenes are mostly very good. Gosha uses a lot slow motion and interesting camera angles (see cap 3 for example). Stylistically it’s a bit like a combination of Leone, Pechinpah and Woo. Samurai Wolf is a film that can be recommended even to those who usually don’t like samurai films. Besides, it’s a short film, about 70 minutes, so give it a chance.
The sequel,
Samurai Wolf 2 (1967), is every bit as good as the original, maybe even better. It's a lot less spaghetti western esque but both the story and the action are even better. All the characters are good, but the main character, played by Isao Natsuyagi, really stands out. He definitely one of the more memorable samurai warriors of the 60's. The film is short (68 min), fast and action packed. I think even those who generally consider B&W samurai movies boring will enjoy these films.
The third film in HK Video's Hideo Gosha Box Set Vol. 1 is my least favourite. But that's only because all the other films are so damn great.
Tange Sazen: The Secret of the Urn is another highly enjoyable chambara flick from Gosha. The film was made in 1966, but stylistically it's closer those violent 70's chambara films I love so much. We don't get the Lone Wolf and Cub kind of bloodbath, but there's a plenty of enjoyable swordplay. The film isn't very original, but it's a lot of fun and features a rather memorable main character. The one-eyed, one-armed swordsman played by Kinnosuke Nakamura can hardly be described as a hero. He doesn't give a shit about anything, and he's constantly pissed. Block his path and he will slize you in half. The character first appeared in Tange Sazen Yowa - Hyakumanryou No Tsubo (1935), which was remade a few years ago. Not having seen any of the other Tange Sazen films and TV shows I'm unable to comment how Gosha's vision differs from those.
Violent Streets (Boryoku gai)
Gosha changes into yakuza mode with this rarely seen film from the mid 70’s. And what was the result? Well, to put it simple, one of the best crime films ever to come out from Japan. Gosha has created a violent gangster opera that combines The Godfather / Once Upon a Time in America kind of gansters with Seijun Suzuki kind of visuals. However, Gosha never takes it over the top like Suzuki, nor does he try to reach the epic hights of Coppola or Leone. The film is short, not very deep, but it’s executed with extreme sense of style. The violence in the film, especially the great shoot-out scene near the end, is strongly influenced by Sam Peckinpah.
Hideo Gosha’s most famous films are samurai classics from the 60’s.
Death Shadows, however, was made in 1986. It’s a little know film with (currently) no IMDB rating. It’s also the most colourful chambara film I have ever seen. We’re talking about Norifumi Suzuki kind of visual orgy here. Aside the mindblowing visuals Gosha fills the film with entertaining swordplay, wonderfully over-acted supporting characters and a bunch of young, beautiful, sword wielding women. The action choreograpy, while not on the level of films like LW&C, is still pretty good and rather inventive, too. Especially the last 25 minutes offers an excellent series of non-stop high quality fight scenes.
They look great! 
Not in good quality.
There is also Rachel Lee (Crazy Love, Girls Unbutton).
