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Rating: 8 stars

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hbo max Japan duel samurai challenge honor ambush sequel swordfight Criterion

All movies seen on 12/28/2021

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Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)

Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki

Action | Drama

Most recently watched by sensoria

Overview

After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan’s greatest fencer, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the region’s finest school of fencing. To prove his valor and skill, he walks deliberately into ambushes set up by the school’s followers. While Otsu waits, Akemi also seeks him, expressing her desires directly. Meanwhile, Takezo is observed by Sasaki Kojiro, a brilliant young fighter, confident he can dethrone Takezo. After leaving Kyoto in triumph, Takezo declares his love for Otsu, but in a way that dishonors her and shames him. Once again, he leaves alone.

Length 103 minutes

Actors

Toshirō Mifune | Koji Tsuruta | Kaoru Yachigusa | Mariko Okada | Michiyo Kogure | Akihiko Hirata | Mitsuko Mito | Kuroemon Onoe | Sachio Sakai | Yû Fujiki | Machiko Kitagawa | Eiko Miyoshi | Eijirô Tôno | Kenjin Iida | Ko Mihashi | Yoshifumi Tajima | Keiko Kondo | Hisako Takihana | Ren Yamamoto | Ryû Kuze | Torahiko Hamada | Yoshio Inaba | Fumindo Matsuo | Minoru Itô | Yasuhisa Tsutsumi | Ren Imaizumi | Rinsaku Ogata | Kenzô Tabu | Kokuten Kôdô

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

Really upped the action and romantic flourishes for the second installment. The story is really cooking now with Sasaki Kojiro appearing and all these women throwing themselves at Musashi. Some really nice shots, too, particularly the scene in the yard behind the courtesan’s home.

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