Shûbun (1950)

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Akira Kurosawa
Ryûzô Kikushima

Release Date:

17 July 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A paparazzi photo sparks a court case as a tabloid magazine spins a scandalous yarn over a painter and a famous singer.

Plot Keywords:

Painter | Tabloid | Singer | Inn | Mountain

Cast

Toshirô Mifune	...	Ichirô Aoye
Shirley Yamaguchi	...	Miyako Saijo (as Yoshiko Yamaguchi)
Yôko Katsuragi	...	Masako Hiruta
Noriko Sengoku	...	Sumie
Eitarô Ozawa	...	Hori
Takashi Shimura	...	Attorney Hiruta
Shin'ichi Himori	...	Editor Asai
Ichirô Shimizu	...	Arai
Fumiko Okamura	...	Miyako's mother
Masao Shimizu	...	Judge
Tanie Kitabayashi	...	Yasu Hiruta
Sugisaku Aoyama	...	Dr. Kataoka
Kokuten Kôdô	...	Old Man A
Kichijirô Ueda	...	Old Man B
Bokuzen Hidari	...	Drunk
Taiji Tonoyama	...	Aoye's friend
Junji Masuda	...	News Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yasuko Goto
Kôji Mitsui	...	Cameraman A (uncredited)

Directed by
Akira Kurosawa

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ryûzô Kikushima
Akira Kurosawa

Produced by
Takashi Koide	....	producer
Sôjirô Motoki	....	planning producer

Original Music by
Fumio Hayasaka

Cinematography by
Toshio Ubukata

Art Direction by
Tatsuo Hamada

Costume Design by
Bunjiro Suzuki

Makeup Department
Toku Sakuma	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Teruo Hagiyama	....	chief assistant director
Keizaburo Kobayashi	....	assistant director
Yasu Nakahira	....	assistant director
Yoshiho Nihonmatsu	....	assistant director
Hotaro Nomura	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Saburo Omura	....	sound

Special Effects by
Keiji Kawakami	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Kazuzo Kajimoto	....	still photographer
Masao Katô	....	lighting technician

Editorial Department
Yoshi Sugihara	....	negative cutter

Other crew
Kametaro Kamida	....	processing
Takamasa Kobayashi	....	equipment
Hideo Morishita	....	script supervisor
Fushitaro Moriya	....	display

Production Companies

• Shochiku Company
• Shôchiku Eiga

Distributors

• Shochiku Company (1950) (Japan) (theatrical)
• EMC (1980) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Entertainment Marketing (????) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Shochiku Films of America (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Shôchiku Eiga (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD) (as Eclipse from the Criterion Collection)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Eureka Video (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Filmfreak Distributie (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• YLE Teema (2005) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1984) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

"Scandal" - International (English title)
"Shubun - Sukyandaru" - Japan (alternative title)
"Escándalo" - Mexico (imdb display title), Spain
"Botrány" - Hungary
"Scandale" - France
"Scandalo" - Italy
"Skandaali" - Finland (TV title)
"Skandal" - West Germany
"Skandalen" - Sweden

Runtime:

104 min | USA:105 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Finland:K-7 | Netherlands:9 (2009) (DVD) | Australia:PG | Switzerland:16

Company:

Shochiku Company

Trivia:

The story for the film was inspired by real events from Japanese tabloids writing things about celebrities; specifically a famous actress. Akira Kurosawa wrote about the nameless actress in his autobiography, saying "I reacted as if the thing had been said about me" describing the tabloid as using a "weapon of publicity" against someone.

Soundtrack:

Buttons and Bows

great but overlooked

This Kurasawa film, starring the ubiquitous Toshiro Mifune is exactly what most film fans do NOT expect. This is NOT a samurai film and there is no killing and it was set in the present-day. Unfortunately, because of these factors it is seldom shown on TV and has been largely ignored by Kurasawa buffs. This is a real shame because I think it's one of his best--due to wonderful writing and characterizations.

The story begins with Mifune on vacation. He's in the mountains painting for relaxation when he accidentally meets up with a famous female celebrity. He drives her back to the inn they are both staying at and the next day they happen to meet again and share breakfast. Nothing illicit--just two nice people sharing time together. However, unknown to them, they are seen and photographed by sleazy tabloid writers who try to create scandal.

The star is't terribly bothered by the mess but Mifune sees this as a great dishonor and he MUST gain satisfaction from the rag. They refuse to relent and so Mifune seeks out legal representation to sue.

This is only the first third of the movie. The alcoholic lawyer and his handicapped daughter make up a powerful and importance presence in the movie. The ending is NOT TO BE MISSED--I couldn't have wanted a better human drama or better acting. Wonderful and true throughout.