Description

Kenji Mizoguchi's (Ugetsu, Sansho the Bailiff) final film became one of his greatest successes, a box-office hit in Japan and abroad.With documentary-like realism, Street of Shame follows five prostitutes working in Tokyo's red-light district.Machiko Kyo (Gate of Hell) leads the remarkable ensemble cast as a tough runaway-turned-prostitute.Weaving five individual stories into one film, Mizoguchi exposes a system that traps impoverished women--daughters, mothers, and wives--in brothels that double as debtors' prisons.Many believe that Street of Shame was key to the 1957 abolition of prostitution in Japan.It remains one of the most powerful films made by one of Japan's greatest directors. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mizoguchi's Swan Song
Kenji Mizoguchi's final film before his death at age 58. This movie features an all-star Japanese cast (Machiko Kyo and Ayako Wakao, to name a few). "Street of Shame," like many of Mizoguchi's movies, focuses on the plight of women in Japanese society. The film chronicles the lives of five prostitutes who work in a Tokyo brothel called Dreamland, an appropriate name indeed. One prostitute named Yumeko dreams of living with her adult son. But that son rejects her because he's ashamed of her profession. Another prostitute named Yorie longs for a happy married life. But her dream also turns into a nightmare. One of the most memorable moments in the film is when one of the prostitutes goes insane. The stories of the women, often heart-wrenching, are told by Mizoguchi with a sense of compassion. The acting is first-rate. Machiko Kyo, who also starred in Rashomon and Ugetsu, gives one of her strongest performances. This movie is a worthwhile addition to any collection of Japanese films. My only real disappointment concerns the soundtrack which I found to be extremely annoying at times.

Another great film by Mizoguchi
Terrific. The movie was made in 1956, but still appeals us so strong and never obsolete. Original title is "AKASEN CHITAI" means "Red District". The story is about women, who work in brothel in Yoshiwara, the red district in Tokyo right after WW II. At that time Japan was extremely devastated, many women are forced to work as prostitutes to survive and support their families. They have strong pain and sorrow working as prostitutes and you can feel their pain. Acting is terrific especially Machiko Kyo who played Mickey, runaway-turned prostitute from rich family. (You can tell she is from rich family, because she calls father and mother as "PAPA" and "MAMA" instead of "OTO-SAN" and "OKA-SAN") This film is very realistic and gives us a very storong message as same as other Mizoguchi's films and even now same thing happens in some countries all over the world. You should see it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

If you want to know about real geisha...
This movie is the most authentic depiction of the clash of tradition and modernity in the geisha world. In the old system, a geisha was under contract and was sometimes strongly encouraged, if not forced, to take a patron (ie., become a mistress), even if she had no feeling for the man. Although nowadays no forcing goes on, this movie deals with the early post-WWII era when attitudes in the geisha world were in transition. This poignant film, Mizoguchi's second to deal extensively with geisha (the first was "Sisters of Gion"), gives an one an excellent feel for the life in Kyoto's Gion geisha quarter fifty years ago. I have seen all the available films and videos about geisha, as well as numerous Japanese programs on aspects of the geisha world, and think that "A Geisha" gives the most complete and authentic view of geisha of any I have seen.

A Dated But Lovely Film for Geisha Enthusiasts
If you've been swept up by the recent Geisha craze, you may want to have a look at this video. The 1950's script and acting seem stilted by today's standards, but the overall effect of the film is still engaging. A young apprentice is taken in for training by high-minded but somewhat reclusive geisha. Both mentor and student soon learn that modern customers want more from both of them than artistic accomplishment. There are lush scenes of geisha performing music and dance, as well as moments of poignancy as each woman wrestles with the seedier side of their profession. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Samurai movie fan must see.
If your a Toshiro Mifune fan or a Shintaro Katsu fan this movie will be entertaining. If you happen to be both, like myself, you'll find it fascinating.

Comparing this film to the likes of Yojimbo, Aka Hige, or The 7 Samurai isn't really appropriate. It would be like Classic American Western to Spaghetti Western, both are western genre but not really comparable.

Toshiro Mifune (the bodyguard) and Shintaro Katsu (the blind masseur Ichi) hook up as opportunists playing two yakusa syndicates against each other. Does this sound familiar?

The predictable theme and general story line lets the really subtle relationship build between Ichi and the Yojimbo. It evolves to be a bit more complex and fun than the typical Japanese morality play.

Excellent Movie
I loved this movie and found it very entertaining. I don't know what the other reviewer was griping about but Toshiro Mifune's character was very much like his hard drinking, money grubbing of a samurai in Yojimbo. The performance of both lead actors was enough to keep me watching the entire movie with total interest.

Great DVD of a fun movie!
This DVD is absolutely worth getting!

The picture quality is fantastic and the movie is fun too. Katsu Shintaro turns in his usualy good performance as Zatoichi, and Toshiro Mifune is always fun to watch, especially in roles similar to Yojimbo.

This DVD has some good extras, great video, and good audio. Add all that to a good film, and there's no reason not to buy this DVD!

Be warned!
First things first, for those that are concerned (and I'm sure you will be as I was), Toshiro Mifune is NOT playing the Yojimbo character from the Kurosawa movies. The title is purely a cash-in, though I'm not sure if it is for the modern Western market or the original title translates as such and was designed to con the Japanese market. The only other film I know of where Mifune genuinely plays the Yojimbo character is "Ambush at Blood Pass" which was the film the both actors completed after this one. In all respects, this is a bad film sadly. It has a few nice moments but its clear this was a commercial venture utilising the two most famous male Japanese actors and characters at the time. In all honesty, I know little about the Zatoichi character, but imagine that the original film must be far superior to this. I couldn't really recommend this film to anyone unless you're a hardcore fan of Japanese Cinema or of the two actors. There are many, many better films of the genre to choose from. Even "Ambush at Blood Pass" which is not a great film is still significantly superior to this one. "Zatoichi versus Yojimbo", like many Japanese films of the time seems confused over what audience its aiming at. The result is an unsatisfactory soup of part comedy, part slasher, part period drama, part morality tale which limps from moment to moment. As said previously, some of these scenes are nice in themselves, but the overall effect is somewhat bland with some scenes almost cringe-worthy. For the uninitiated, always try a Kurosawa film first, if not (and you are interested in Samurai films from an historical perspective) then you may prefer to look at the films of Mizoguchi or Kobyashi. If you just want to see a good samurai flick with Mifune in it, then you may want to look at films such as "Red Lion", "Samurai Assassin" or "Samurai Banners" which are more rounded films and are currently available. As said, I don't know much about Zatoichi, but I would imagine the original and early films are better than this one and worth the effort. Still, I hope this proves useful, it would have saved me money!

entertaining for the Toshiro Mifune/Samurai flick fan
Not your typical action movie. Fights scenes aren't spectacular but enjoyable. Must be able to pay attention to the not-so-obvious plot advancing scenes. If you are into Toshiro Mifune/Samurai movie, you will enjoy this long but entertaining movie ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"Camp"--the pursuit of style
If film is about the pursuit of style, Ichikawa Kon does the best. From one scene to another, Kon demonstrates that the pleasure of movie does not lie in "content," but the stylish movement.

Kon experiments this philosophy in his other films, such as "The Tokyo Olympiad" (a documentary of the Tokyo Olympics in 1964) and "The Makioka Sisters."

It's truly a shame that this VHS version is out of print. Someone MUST release this film on DVD.

Entertaining
The greatest difficulty for the viewer is in deciding how to take this film. The story at its most basic is this: a kabuki actor famed for playing women finds the three men who drove his father to madness and his mother to suicide. Bent on revenge he takes advantage of the love of the daughter of one of these men and turns the men against eachother until, in the end all three are dead as is the daughter. Having never wanted to have taken this revenge and grieved at the death of the daughter, the actor leaves and is never seen again. However we are not meant to be emotionally rapt through all of this. There is a backing cast of wacky and sometimes noble characters, mostly theives, that bring a great bit of light humour into the mix. As it is, we must take it as neither drama nor comedy, but something approximating both. It is no masterpiece of cinema, but it ends up being a very enjoyable film to watch. The lighting and cinematographical technique used throughout is very impressive. It creates a dramatic setting similar to the stage on kabuki company performs their fanciful dramas. This film too is another fanciful production. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Gem
A true family movie about a bad father coming back to save his son from the temptations of this world. It has beautiful photography and the story is very realistic and touching.

The Quiet, Usual Ozu Masterpiece
I have only really discovered Ozu in the last year or so and in my mid-- life it is like entering a bright new world. I have recently watched Floating Weeds for the second time (having ordered it on video). The first time I thought it an unusual film- though not one of his best. I have now completely revised this opinion and consider it a supreme masterpiece. Ozu astonishes with a quiet directness I find moving , completely absorbing and exhilarating to watch. I realize the theatre troup which comes into the town, contstructs its little Kabuki world and then fades into nothing is a perfect vehicle and symbol for what Ozu is consistently portraying in all his little plays: the transient , troubling beauty of the world . The transient troubling little dramas af human relationships.The imagery in all Ozu's films(but somehow epsecially this one) make me see images as I did in childhood : a turned corner on a side street, a scene of a harbor at dusk, a slightly surprised look on the face of middle-aged woman. Many of these movies were filmed when I was a child but I believe there is more than a kind odd 1950's familiarity. There is a kind of direct , unfettered appeal to sensations it is almost difficult to name. Something immediately
innocent and guileless in ourselves. Something always,already seeing and awake. The more I watch Ozu the more I see this and nowhere more than in this film. I kept chuckling at little, scene after little scene. Tiny little nuanced moments I kept rewinding to see if I'd really seen . Anyone who hasn't seen this film: Don't just watch it once.

One of Ozu's best
This movie is actually a re-make of a silent film (Story of Floating Weeds) Ozu directed in the 1930's. The 1959 version has both sound and color. It was a collaboration between two studios, Shochiku (Ozu's film company) and Daiei. This was a rare chance for Ozu to work with Daiei's great cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa, the man who filmed such classics as Ugetsu and Rashomon. The Daiei studio also provided some of the leading ladies of their time, Machiko Kyo and Ayako Wakao.

The acting in this movie is first-rate and the cinematography is lyrical and beautiful. Pay attention to the rich colors in this film, especially the reds. The movie tells the story of a failing troupe of Kabuki players who drift (like floating weeds) into a fishing village for their next (and ultimately last) set of performances. As the movie progresses, we learn more about the characters and their many personality flaws. But these flaws only serve to make the characters more endearing, perhaps because we can see a little of ourselves and the people we know.

Many Westerners will prefer other Ozu films like Tokyo Story or Late Spring. But make no mistake; Floating Weeds is one of Ozu's best. The acting, story-telling and cinematography in this movie all combine to create a movie classic.

MASTERPIECE
This is one of Ozu's most poignant and beautiful films. He is a master of the light touch, with slow, lyrical camera work and a story that takes its time to unfold. Terrence Malick might well have learned to tell his film stories from Ozu, who always allows the film to reveal itself at its own pace, which is neither frantic nor tedious--just natural. We can also learn a great deal about human relations, Japanese society and the world of traveling players. A brilliant film in every sense.

Quietly Powerful, Beautiful Filmmaking!!!
The films of Yasujiro Ozu always has a silent poignancy that has been unmatched in cinema. He is the creator of his own cinematic 'style'. It consists of low camera angles, no close-ups, no camera movement, the camera stays still. Probably the most quietly precise director of foreign cinema, he is know as the most 'Japanese' director of Japan's filmmakers. In this film he tells the story of an acting troupe who come to a small fishing town. To reveal more of the plot would be to deny you the dramatic impact of the film. While certainly not a technical marvel, it's raw power to move us remains untouched, and even more because of Ozu's direction. As we see the film evolve we feel him slowly coming toward us, but he doesn't creep at us, he puts his friendly hand on our shoulder and makes us feel comfortable. This film is a perfect introduction into Ozu's work, but also stands well by itself. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mizoguchi's Swan Song
Kenji Mizoguchi's final film before his death at age 58. This movie features an all-star Japanese cast (Machiko Kyo and Ayako Wakao, to name a few). "Street of Shame," like many of Mizoguchi's movies, focuses on the plight of women in Japanese society. The film chronicles the lives of five prostitutes who work in a Tokyo brothel called Dreamland, an appropriate name indeed. One prostitute named Yumeko dreams of living with her adult son. But that son rejects her because he's ashamed of her profession. Another prostitute named Yorie longs for a happy married life. But her dream also turns into a nightmare. One of the most memorable moments in the film is when one of the prostitutes goes insane. The stories of the women, often heart-wrenching, are told by Mizoguchi with a sense of compassion. The acting is first-rate. Machiko Kyo, who also starred in Rashomon and Ugetsu, gives one of her strongest performances. This movie is a worthwhile addition to any collection of Japanese films. My only real disappointment concerns the soundtrack which I found to be extremely annoying at times.

Another great film by Mizoguchi
Terrific. The movie was made in 1956, but still appeals us so strong and never obsolete. Original title is "AKASEN CHITAI" means "Red District". The story is about women, who work in brothel in Yoshiwara, the red district in Tokyo right after WW II. At that time Japan was extremely devastated, many women are forced to work as prostitutes to survive and support their families. They have strong pain and sorrow working as prostitutes and you can feel their pain. Acting is terrific especially Machiko Kyo who played Mickey, runaway-turned prostitute from rich family. (You can tell she is from rich family, because she calls father and mother as "PAPA" and "MAMA" instead of "OTO-SAN" and "OKA-SAN") This film is very realistic and gives us a very storong message as same as other Mizoguchi's films and even now same thing happens in some countries all over the world. You should see it. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Samurai movie fan must see.
If your a Toshiro Mifune fan or a Shintaro Katsu fan this movie will be entertaining. If you happen to be both, like myself, you'll find it fascinating.

Comparing this film to the likes of Yojimbo, Aka Hige, or The 7 Samurai isn't really appropriate. It would be like Classic American Western to Spaghetti Western, both are western genre but not really comparable.

Toshiro Mifune (the bodyguard) and Shintaro Katsu (the blind masseur Ichi) hook up as opportunists playing two yakusa syndicates against each other. Does this sound familiar?

The predictable theme and general story line lets the really subtle relationship build between Ichi and the Yojimbo. It evolves to be a bit more complex and fun than the typical Japanese morality play.

Excellent Movie
I loved this movie and found it very entertaining. I don't know what the other reviewer was griping about but Toshiro Mifune's character was very much like his hard drinking, money grubbing of a samurai in Yojimbo. The performance of both lead actors was enough to keep me watching the entire movie with total interest.

Great DVD of a fun movie!
This DVD is absolutely worth getting!

The picture quality is fantastic and the movie is fun too. Katsu Shintaro turns in his usualy good performance as Zatoichi, and Toshiro Mifune is always fun to watch, especially in roles similar to Yojimbo.

This DVD has some good extras, great video, and good audio. Add all that to a good film, and there's no reason not to buy this DVD!

Be warned!
First things first, for those that are concerned (and I'm sure you will be as I was), Toshiro Mifune is NOT playing the Yojimbo character from the Kurosawa movies. The title is purely a cash-in, though I'm not sure if it is for the modern Western market or the original title translates as such and was designed to con the Japanese market. The only other film I know of where Mifune genuinely plays the Yojimbo character is "Ambush at Blood Pass" which was the film the both actors completed after this one. In all respects, this is a bad film sadly. It has a few nice moments but its clear this was a commercial venture utilising the two most famous male Japanese actors and characters at the time. In all honesty, I know little about the Zatoichi character, but imagine that the original film must be far superior to this. I couldn't really recommend this film to anyone unless you're a hardcore fan of Japanese Cinema or of the two actors. There are many, many better films of the genre to choose from. Even "Ambush at Blood Pass" which is not a great film is still significantly superior to this one. "Zatoichi versus Yojimbo", like many Japanese films of the time seems confused over what audience its aiming at. The result is an unsatisfactory soup of part comedy, part slasher, part period drama, part morality tale which limps from moment to moment. As said previously, some of these scenes are nice in themselves, but the overall effect is somewhat bland with some scenes almost cringe-worthy. For the uninitiated, always try a Kurosawa film first, if not (and you are interested in Samurai films from an historical perspective) then you may prefer to look at the films of Mizoguchi or Kobyashi. If you just want to see a good samurai flick with Mifune in it, then you may want to look at films such as "Red Lion", "Samurai Assassin" or "Samurai Banners" which are more rounded films and are currently available. As said, I don't know much about Zatoichi, but I would imagine the original and early films are better than this one and worth the effort. Still, I hope this proves useful, it would have saved me money!

entertaining for the Toshiro Mifune/Samurai flick fan
Not your typical action movie. Fights scenes aren't spectacular but enjoyable. Must be able to pay attention to the not-so-obvious plot advancing scenes. If you are into Toshiro Mifune/Samurai movie, you will enjoy this long but entertaining movie ... Read more