Gate of Hell (1953)

Gate of Hell (Jigokumon)
Directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa
Written by Teinosuke Kinugasa and Masaichi Nagata from a play by Kan Kukichi
1953/Japan
Daiei Studios
First viewing/Hulu

[box] “I have little left in myself — I must have you. The world may laugh — may call me absurd, selfish — but it does not signify. My very soul demands you: it will be satisfied, or it will take deadly vengeance on its frame.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre[/box]

Gate of Hell presents a dark tale of obsession in glowing colors and a sumptuous setting.

It is 1160.  Lord Kiyomori travels to help put down a rebellion elsewhere and the Emperor’s residence in Kyoto is besieged by two other lords.  There is a great battle and a general decides it is necessary to hide thefather and sister of the Emperor.  He asks for a volunteer to serve as a decoy for the sister.  Lady Kesa (Machiko Kyô) steps up. She sets off in a palanquin guarded by General Moritô and his men.  They are promptly attacked by rebels.  Moritô vanquishes the attackers.  Lady Kesa then resides in Morito’s castle until it is safe to return home.

Lord Kiyomori rewards Moritô’s loyalty by offering to give him anything he wants.  After extracting a promise that the Lord really means what he says, Moritô asks to marry Lady Kesa.  But unbeknownst to him, she is already married to Wataru, chief of the castle guard.  Morito is undeterred and the Lord says he will allow the marriage if Lady Kesa consents.  But Kesa seems to be very happily married indeed.

Moritô, who started out as the hero of the piece, simply will not take no for an answer.  He takes ever more drastic steps to win his lady, resulting in tragedy for all concerned.

This film grabs the viewer with its stunning sets, costumes, and use of color from the first frame. The story got off to a slow start for me but by mid-way through I was thoroughly involved and so mad at Moritô that I was yelling at the screen.  The ending is really moving.  Recommended.

Gate of Hell won a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color.  It received an Honorary Oscar for Best Foreign Film.

Clip