Travels of Hibari and Chiemi

                         
Director: Toshio Masuda
Year: 1962
Rating: 7.5
This is a wonderful dizzy comedic blast from the past. Imagine a big ball bouncing down the steps knocking everyone asunder in various directions causing more chaos as people crash into other people and carts go flying and at the bottom of the steps the ball comes to a halt and out jump two women who break into a song. That isn't a scene in the film (though it would have been a good one) but this is how this whole film felt. A series of crazy funny slapstick scenes full of charm and grace. To put it in our terms it would be like Lucy and Ethel going on a road trip and causing trouble everywhere - except they can't sing. These two can. In fact, they were two of the biggest singing stars in Japan from the 1950s through the 1960s. Hibari Misora and Chiemi Eri.


I have been a fan of Hibari for a few years now. She is a delight. After the war she was their Shirley Temple, raising spirits as a child performer and her popularity continued in both films and song for years. Her life was full of ups and downs but on the screen she is pure personality. I am not as familiar with Chiemi Eri though. This is the first film I have come across her but she is a shot of fun gas. Both of them were huge singing stars. Eri often sang Western jazz songs and even performed with Count Basie. She was also married to Ken Takakura from 1959 to 1971. The two of them along with another popular female singer, Izumi Yukimura, formed a trio and often performed live.




She is the goofball here making funny little faces and sounds. As one theater owner tells them "One of you is too near-sighted and the other too scatterbrained. You can never perform here". To which they yell "Yes we can!". The best of friends who almost live in synchronicity with one another. Late in the film they unknowingly fall in love with the same guy and you think ah, this will break up their friendship but when they realize this they jump for joy and hug each other. They are made for each other. They would also drive any one else nuts.


At the beginning of this period film they have dreams of being on stage before an audience but for right now they are clog collectors. When customers enter they have to leave their shoes at the front and Hibari and Chiemi are responsible for collecting them and then handing them back at the end of the show. It is a nightly madhouse. After one night they are exhausted and depressed that their lives are going nowhere - no closer to being stars, no closer to love. And then suddenly they begin to move to a beat and slowly break into a lovely song - more fantasy then real. But they drop down a hole like Alice and find themselves overhearing drug dealers discuss their plans.





They are discovered of course and a madcap chase ensues. Much of the film plays out like this. When they are in jail for bopping a policeman (Minoru Chiaki) over the head by mistake, they stop a jail break that was planned by the cops so that their undercover man (Chiyonosuke Azuma) can infiltrate the gang. They are rewarded by being fired from their job and are sent on the road to get them out of the way. But dressed like men they constantly run into the gang. Songs break out at the drop of a dime - a jazzy upbeat score - and they find themselves constantly in trouble or saving the day. Total cornball comedy with a thick creamy layer of charm. There is a sequel that I need to find some day. This just put me into a great mood.