The Men Who Tread On The Tiger's Tail (1945) is Akira Kurosawa's fourth film and a part of Criterion's Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa (with Sanshiro Sugata, The Most Beautiful, and Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two). it is a curious film in several respects since it was filmed during Japan's surrender on a restricted budget. It was kept off the American censor's list, because some felt that Kurosawa wasn't being respectful of the origins of the story which was staged in Kabuki and Noh versions. Therefore it wasn't shown until 1952, however Kurosawa maintained that this was not so. He was being more true to the Noh version, of which he preferred and found more artful than Kabuki. That being said it is also his shortest film coming in at under an hour, and also a comedy and musical. Perhaps, his intent was to entertain people after the hardships of the war and defeat.
Post a comment
Your Information
(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)
Comments