Daily Archives: April 18, 2018

Gate of Flesh (Nikutai no mon)
Directed by Seijun Suzuki
Written by Goro Tanada from a novel by Tajiro Tamura
1964/Japan
Nikkatsu
First viewing/Netflix rentalIt is

[box] We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution. VICTOR HUGO, Les Misérables[/box]

Suzuki’s gonzo cinema investigates the decadence of Occupied Japan.

It is sometime just after the end of WWII in Tokyo. A group of take-no-prisoners women have banded together to engage in prostitution near a U.S. Army base.  They have cut out the middle man and limit their clientele to Japanese.  The strictest house rule is absolutely no sex without pay.  Those that violate that rule are ruthlessly punished.

Into this world comes Shintaro Ibuki (Jo Shishido).  He is hiding out after having stabbed an American serviceman and is nursing a wound.  He plays it super cool and attracts all the women while basically ignoring them.  Eventually a couple will succumb to his charms, leading to some graphic girl-on-girl violence.

This is the first Suzuki film I’ve seen that does not feature yakuza.  Between all the prostitution and black-marketeering there is plenty of crime though and even more sleeze than usual.  Quite an experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQpaFcNPLpA

no subtitles but the images are like something out of Buñuel

Strait-Jacket
Directed by William Castle
Written by Robert Bloch
1964/USA
William Castle Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Carol Harbin: I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! No I didn’t mean that, I love you. I hate you![/box]

Another fun over-the-top thriller from William Castle.  And what could be more fun than Joan Crawford as an axe-murderer!

As the story begins, party girl Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) unexpectedly comes home and finds her studly husband in bed with another woman.  Her young daughter is cowering in another room.  This does not deter Lucy from slaughtering the adulterous couple with an axe.  She is found to have been insane and sent away to the state asylum for twenty years.

Segue to 20 years later and Lucy has been declared sane and returns home to the family farm.  She reunites with her daughter Carol who has grown up to be Diane Baker.  Carol is almost engaged to the wealthy Michael.  The couple are afraid to declare their intentions to his straight-laced parents.  For reasons that will become only too clear, Diane decides what her mother needs is a make-over.  New clothes, shoes, and wig make Lucy look just like she did 20 years ago.  Will she feel the same as well?

I enjoyed this.  Crawford, who does most of her acting with her eyebrows, pulls out all the stops!