Sword Devil
Director: Kenji Misumi
Year: 1965
Rating: 7.0
Aka - Ken Ki
An interesting take on Chanbara films from one of the masters - Kenji Misumi
who directed many of the Zatoichi, Sleepy Eyes of Death and Lone Wolf and
Cub films. That is sort of the Holy Trinity of Samurai series during the
1960s. This one is none of those. Instead it delves into the intrigue within
a Lord's castle and the strict class structure within the Samurai rankings
and those on the outside. It takes place during a period of peace in Japan
- all the civil wars are over and Samurai have no wars to fight in. Many
Samurai were let go and became Ronin. And Edo had the right to confiscate
a Lord's land if there was no successor when the Lord died or if there were
internal problems.
Hanpei's mother Okin was an attendant to Lady Makino who lost her mind and
died but before she did she elevated Okin in the court and asked her to take
care of her beloved dog. Okin gets pregnant by an unknown person and dies
during childbirth to Hanpei. Because of Lady Makino's bequest he has to be
taken care of and is given to the care of a Samurai of lower rank. The joke
that goes around is that it was the dog that fathered Hanpei and this follows
him all his life. Hanpei translates to "spot" (as on a dog) and "lower" as
in his rank in society. When Hanpei is twenty-three his adopted father dies
with the advice that Hanpei learn some skill and keep it secret.
First he becomes a horticulturalist and grows flowers for the Lord, the son
of Lady Makino. But one day while in the forest he sees a ronin practicing
his skill - the quick-draw - kill - and put sword back for the next draw.
This fascinates Hanpei and he learns by watching. Learns too well as he is
asked by one of the ranking Samurai to kill a spy. The Lord is going crazy
and if word gets back to Edo they will take away the land. Hanpei has another
skill - speed - he is like the roadrunner and can catch horses on foot and
does and kills the spy. He likes it. It makes him feel special. He gets more
assignments - eventually some within the castle who want to replace the Lord.
Hanpei is played by Raizô Ichikawa so you know the swordplay will be
clean and swift. He gives his character a complexity - a yin and yang - the
man who loves growing flowers and is in love with a vegetable seller (Michiko
Sugata) who won't believe that Hanpei is a killer - and the feeling of exultation
he feels for completing an assignment. In a strange sense Hanpie has turned
into the dog people have called him - his superior tells him to fetch as
in kill and he goes without question. Good film with a big finish as you
might expect with this director.