47 Ronin (1962) Chushingura | Region-Free (Blu-Ray) | Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki | Starring Yûzô Kayama

Title: 47 Ronin (1962)

Alternate Title: Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki

Genre: Jidaigeki (Period Drama), Historical Drama

Plot Synopsis:
Set in early 18th-century Japan, 47 Ronin recounts the true story of 47 samurai who become masterless (rōnin) after their lord, Asano Naganori, is compelled to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) following a confrontation with the corrupt Lord Kira. Bound by the code of bushido, the rōnin, led by Ōishi Kuranosuke, meticulously plan to avenge their master’s honor. After two years of patient strategizing, they execute a daring assault on Kira’s mansion, accepting the fatal consequences of their loyalty and restoring their clan’s honor.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
• Producer: Tomoyuki Tanaka
• Screenplay: Toshio Yasumi
• Music: Akira Ifukube
• Cinematography: Kazuo Yamada
• Cast:
  • Matsumoto Kōshirō as Chamberlain Ōishi Kuranosuke
  • Yūzō Kayama as Lord Asano Naganori
  • Tatsuya Mihashi as Horibe Yasubei
  • Akira Takarada as Takada Gunbei
  • Toshirō Mifune as Genba Tawaraboshi

IMDb Link:
Chushingura (1962)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Filipe Furtado – ★★★½
   “Hiroshi Inagaki made this version of 47 Ronin for Toho’s 30th year celebration and the size is a central part of its point: huge all-star cast (including Setsuko Hara’s last part), 3-hour plus running time, wide color images. It is more focused on duty than sacrifice and moves in a methodical but inevitable manner.”
2. Sean Gilman – ★★★★
   “A grand, colorful, and star-studded retelling of the 47 Ronin story, with Inagaki’s usual humanism and attention to detail. The final raid is spectacular, but it’s the quiet moments of camaraderie and loyalty that stand out.”
3. Peter Labuza – ★★★★
   “Inagaki’s Chushingura is a sweeping epic that balances the personal and the political, the intimate and the grand. The ensemble cast delivers strong performances, and the film’s pacing allows for a deep exploration of the samurai code.”

Meta Description:
47 Ronin (1962), also known as Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki, is a Japanese jidaigeki epic directed by Hiroshi Inagaki. The film portrays the historical tale of 47 samurai avenging their lord’s forced seppuku, highlighting themes of loyalty, honor, and sacrifice.