Daily Archives: September 9, 2020

1970 Recap and Favorites List

Posted on September 9, 2020 | 4 comments

I have now watched 46 films that were released in 1970. A complete list of the films I saw can be found here. My favorites are listed in alphabetical order.  I left off the excellent short documentaries Original Cast Album: Company and 7 Plus Seven.  From the List, I either couldn’t find or had no interest in seeing Deep End; Zabrieski Point; and The Spider’s Stratagem.

I do believe this might be the first time every film on my favorites list has been in color!

The Conformist – Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci

Dodesukaden – Directed by Akira Kurosawa

Five Easy Pieces – Directed by Bob Rafelson

Gimme Shelter – Directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles, and Charlotte Zwerin

I Never Sang for My Father – Directed by Gene Cates

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion – Directed by Elio Petri

The Red Circle/Le cercle rouge – Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville

 

Tristana – Directed by Luis Buñuel

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders – Directed by Jaromil Jires

Woodstock – Directed by Michael Wadleigh

 

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Posted in 1970, Top Ten Lists

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (1970)

Posted on September 9, 2020 | Leave a comment

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (Zatôichi abare-himatsuri)
Directed by Kenji Misumi
Written by Shintaro Katsu from a character created by Kan Shiwozawa
1970/Japan
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel

 

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. – Matthew 26:52

This 21st film in the Zatoichi series goes back to its roots and is one of the best so far.

The story is the same as all the others where Zatoich (Shintaru Katsui), the blind masseuse/gambler, is forced against his will to take up his cane sword again and fight off hordes of the enemy single-handedly.  He also has an arch-nemisis who will force him into a one-on-one duel.  This time it is Tetsuya Nakadai, who has too little screen time.

During his wanderings, Ichi comes upon a village that is under the thumb of an evil blind gang boss.  The boss uses what he thinks is his special insight on Zatoichi to manipulate him.  He sends his slave to Ichi to attempt to seduce him and take his cane sword,  But the spy falls in love with Ichi and refuses to carry out her mission.  So the boss entices Zatoichi to a “Fire Festival” for a final showdown.

Star Shintaru Katsu wrote the script and the production was helmed by Kenji Misumi, who directed the very first of the series The Tale of Zatoichi (1962), another really excellent entry.  Both clearly understand what makes the best of these pictures so great.  Accordingly, we have zero annoying little kids or comic relief or young lovers and plenty of mayhem, including a truly memorable fight between the naked Zatoichi and a group of attackers in a bath.  Katsu also has opportunities to display his skill as a comedian and actor.  Recommended if you have any interest at all in seeing what this is all about.

Montage of sword fights from various films

 

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Posted in Movie Reviews