Kon Ichikawa (1915 - 2008)
It is difficult to describe the characteristics of Kon Ichikawa as a director. He directed so many movies of a broad variety of genres and subjects, which makes it almost impossible to judge Ichikawa by the genres or subjects he selected. In addition, Ichikawa usually appears to be not so emotionally involved with the characters of his movies, except for rare cases such as "The Burmese Harp" (1956), "Otôto" (1960), and "Hakai" (1962). In many cases, it seems that Ichikawa objectively observed and remotely controlled the characters in his movies, and, thus, the characters often appear to play a game rather than play a drama.
Technically, Ichikawa is characterized by his keen sense of composition and unique manner of editing, and he enjoyed, throughout his long career, devising unique or challenging techniques of composition, editing, sound-effect, delivery of dialogues, and so on.
Thus, some criticizes Ichikawa as heartless, frivolous, or artificial, arguing that Ichikawa was more interested in techniques than human. I agree such criticism in part. Indeed, Ichikawa's movies occasionally appear to be artificial. However, it is his style. So to speak, Ichikawa portrayed his movie's characters in a graphic manner using simple lines, rather than in a realistic manner using oil paints. You are free to say, "I like oil paintings better than line drawings". However, you should not say, "Oil paintings are superior to line drawings because I like oil paintings more". I like both.
(Filmography)
The filmography provides the items "Production year", "Japanese title", "English title", "Survival Status"(whether or not negative or positive exists), and DVD/Blu-ray availability. Titles of the movies ranked in Top_10 are in bold font.
(Note) Most of Ichikawa's films are preserved in a complete form, thus the item "Survival Status" is omitted except for titles whose complete version does not exist.
(Note) Some of the available DVD/Blu-ray titles are out of stock. Never fail to check subtitles, as well as region codes and format (NTSC or PAL) of the disc and your player, before purchasing DVD/Blu-ray discs.
(Filmography)
1948 Hana hiraku - Machiko yori
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1948 Sambyakurokujugo ya (365 Nights)
Survival Status: Incomplete re-released version shorter than the original by approx. 20%
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1949 Ningen moyô (Design of a Human Being)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1949 Hateshinaki jônetsu (Endless Passion/Passion Without End)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1950 Ginza Sanshirô (A Ginza Veteran/Sanshiro at Ginza)
Survival Status: Incomplete re-released version shorter than the original by approx. 20%
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1950 Netsudeichi (Heat and Mud)
Survival Status: Incomplete re-released version shorter than the original by approx. 40%
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1950 Akatsuki no tsuiseki (Pursuit at Dawn)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1951 Ieraishan (Nightshade Flower)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1951 Koibito (The Lover/The Sweetheart)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1951 Mukokuseki-sha (The Man Without a Nationality)
Survival Status: Lost
1951 Nusumareta koi (Stolen Love)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1951 Bungawan soro (River Solo Flows)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1951 Kekkon koshinkyoku (Wedding March)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1952 Rakki-san (Mr. Lucky)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1952 Wakai hito (Young Generation/Young People)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese (incomplete version (73/117 min), I cannot recommend)
1952 Ashi ni sawatta onna (The Woman Who Touched the Legs)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1952 Ano te kono te (This Way, That Way)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1953 Pu-san (Mr. Poo/Mr. Pu)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1953 Aoiro kakumei (The Blue Revolution)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1953 Seishun Zenigata Heiji (Youth of Heiji Senigata)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1954 Aijin (The Lovers)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1954 Watashi no subete wo (All About Me/All of Myself)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1954 Okuman chôja (A Billionaire)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1955 Josei ni kansuru jûnishô (Twelve Chapters about Women)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1955 Seishun kaidan (Ghost Story of Youth)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1955 Kokoro (The Heart)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, UK, French
1956 Biruma no tategoto (The Burmese Harp)(*1)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, USA, UK
1956 Shokei no heya (Punishment Room)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1956 Nihonbashi (Bridge of Japan)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1957 Manin densha (A Full-Up Train/Crammed Streetcar/The Crowded Train)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1957 Tôhoku no zunmu-tachi (The Men of Tohoku)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1958 Ana (Hole in One/The Hole/The Pit)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1958 Enjô (Conflagration/The Temple of the Golden Pavilion)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1959 Anata to watashi no aikotoba: Sayônara, konnichiwa (Goodbye - Good Day/Goodbye, Hello)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1959 Kagi (Odd Obsession/The Key)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1959 Nobi (Fires on the Plain)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, French
1960 Jokyô_"Mono o takaku uritsukeru onna"
(A Woman's Testament_segment "A Woman Who Sell Dear")
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1960 Bonchi
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1960 Otôto (Younger Brother)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1961 Kuroi jûnin no onna (Ten Black Women)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1962 Hakai (The Broken Commandments)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1962 Watashi wa nisai (I Am Two Years Old)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1963 Yukinojô henge (An Actor's Revenge/Revenge of a Kabuki Actor)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, USA, UK, and more
1963 Taiheiyô hitori-botchi (Alone Across the Pacific)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, UK, French
1964 Dokonjo monogatari - zeni no odori (Money Talks/The Money Dance)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1965 Tôkyô orinpikku (Tokyo Olympiad)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, USA
1967 Toppo Jîjo no botan sensô (Topo Gigio and the Missile War)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1968 Seishun (Youth)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1968 Kyô (Kyoto)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese (Compilation DVD: B001F055H2), USA
1970 Tsuru (A Crane)(*2)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1970 Panpa no Bouken (The Adventure of Panpa)(*2)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1971 Ai futatabi (To Love Again)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1973 Matatabi (Errance/The Wanderers)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1973 Toki yo tomare, kimi wa utsukusii (Visions of Eight: segment "The Fastest")(*2)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, USA
1975 Wagahai wa neko de aru (I Am a Cat)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1976 Tsuma to onna no aida (Between Wife and Woman/Between Women and Wives)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1976 Inugamike no ichizoku (The Inugami Clan)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1977 Akuma no temari-uta (Rhyme of Vengeance/The Devil's Ballad)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1977 Gokumon-to (Guillotine Island/Hell's Gate Island)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1978 Joôbachi (Queen Bee)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1978 Hi no tori (Firebird/The Phoenix)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1979 Byôinzaka no kubikukuri no ie (The House of Hanging)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1980 Koto (Ancient City)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1981 Kôfuku (Happiness/Lonely Heart)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1983 Sasame-yuki (Fine Snow/The Makioka Sisters)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, USA
1984 Ohan
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1985 Biruma no tatekoto (The Burmese Harp)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1986 Rokumeikan (High Society of Meiji/The Hall of the Crying Deer)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1987 Eiga joyû (Actress/Film Actress)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1987 Taketori monogatari (Kaguya/Princess from the Moon)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, USA, UK
1988 Tsuru (Crane)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1991 Tenkawa densetsu satsujin jiken (Noh Mask Murders)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
1993 Kaettekite Kogarashi Monjiro (The Return of Kogarashi Monjiro)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
1994 Shijûshichinin no shikaku (47 Ronin)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, UK
1996 Yatsu haka-mura (The 8-Tomb Village)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
2000 Shinsengumi
DVD/Blu-ray availability: None
2001 Dora-heita (Alley Cat)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, USA
2001 Kah-chan (Big Mama)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
2007 Inugamike no ichizoku (The Inugami Clan)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese
2007 Yume jû-ya (Ten Nights of Dream) (second segment only)
DVD/Blu-ray availability: Japanese, USA (check Amazon video)
(*1) The first part (1710m) , which tells the first half of the story, was obliged to be released before completing filming in order to keep the release schedule. After completing filming, two versions were released simultaneously, one of which is the second part (2199m) which tells the last half of the story, and the other of which is the complete version (3196m) which tell the whole story.Only the first part and the complete version were edited by Ichikawa. The complete version was often referred to as "abridged version/condensed version" incorrectly.
(*3) Screened at Expo '70 (Osaka) in combination with live action.
(My recommendations)
In addition to the titles ranked in the Top_10_Movies, the movies Ichikawa directed for Daiei from 1956 to 1964 are generally worth watching. This Daiei period was Ichikawa's peak years, I think.
Probably, Ichikawa's "artificial" style was most suitable for comedies. Ichikawa directed many comedies, romantic ones,cynical ones, or black comedies. Ichikawa was most active, as a director of comedies, in the period before he entered Daiei. Among the comedies in this period, I recommend the followings:
"Nusumareta koi/Stolen Love"(1951);
"Kekkon koshinkyoku/Wedding March" (1951);
"Pu-san/Mr. Poo/Mr. Pu" (1953);
"Seishun Zenigata Heiji/Youth of Heiji Senigata" (1953); and
"Aijin/The Lovers" (1954) (My favorite).
Ichikawa's style was also suitable for documentaries, which, for ichikawa, were showcases of techniques of editing. Needless to say, "Tôkyô orimpikku/Tokyo Olympiad" is Ichikawa's best in this genre. I also recommend "Kyô/Kyoto" (a documentary short).
During the decade after "Tokyo Olympiad", Ichikawa's works were obviously inferior to his works in the previous decade. So was even "Matatabi/Errance/The Wanderers" (1973), which was Ichikawa's best in this period. Ichikawa recovered, to some extent, from his slump in mid-1970s, on and after "Inugamike no ichizoku/The Inugami Clan" (1976). Until around mid-1980s, Ichikawa's works were moderately successful, but could not reach the level of the works in the Daiei period. Among the movies in this period, I recommend "Inugami", "Kôfuku/Happiness/Lonely Heart" (1981), "Sasame-yuki/Fine Snow/The Makioka Sisters" (1983), and "Ohan" (1984).
In 1990s and 2000s, Ichikawa continued to be active. Even in this period, Ichikawa showed flashes of his talents and skills.
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