Zatoichi's Flashing Sword - 1964

Illustrated by Ricardo Venancio

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword, we have the startling distinct difference between the light humor and grim darkness this series is known for. We open with some basic slapstick, and as the film progresses along the plot, it gets darker and darker, until the final conflict is down at night, with the only lighting source fireworks and a candle, with suspiciously big flame.

Our film begins with some light comedy, that ends with a young yakuza attempting to shoot Zatoichi with a musket. He almost succeeds, but a young woman aids him. He would then travel to her home town to give proper thanks upon his full recovery. There finds two rival yakuza families, obviously, and thus must choose a side in an upcoming battle over control of a ford and it's trafficking across.

Of course, it's pretty easy since one side are decent enough folks, the other side is full of bastards. As well, the young woman who aided Ichi after his being shot is the daughter of one lord. Pretty cut and dry. That is what I can say for this movie, it's pretty cut and dry. It's got the stock formula down and it doesn't feel the need to step outside it's comfort zones. Naoko Kubo as Okuni is a pretty standard love interest that at least in this film doesn't flip like a switch from hating to loving Zatoichi. She has time to develop her care for him.

What steps from the mold in the third act is when Zatoichi is basically kicked out of town. Because he is a fugitive, and the rival Yakuza boss has an in with the local magistrate, he can easily have the problem come down hard on the good yakuza bosses. So, Ichi leaves, and the friendly yakuza gang is pretty much over run and wiped out by the bad ones. Ichi learns this, and goes on a killing spree.

I'm not joking, I'm hard pressed to think of when Ichi actively seeks out people to kill, he's almost always the one being surrounded and hunted. And seeing this man go into the rival yakuza camp with murderous intentions is intense. He isn't tricking them to get what he wants, he wants them dead. All this takes place at night, and we see a lot of beautiful camerawork and fight choreography. It all ends with a candle stub on Zatoichi's sword, which is the only light in the shot, which he waves at the enemies around him, to make them back down. All the while he is hunting down the yakuza boss, who is running form him like a coward.

This all brings us to the end. Like several films before it, when the final big bad drops, the movie ends. It made me cry out for more. I can honestly say I have not found one of these movies I have disliked. They may be formulaic, but Shintaro Kastu has charisma and enough intensity in the right moments that these films are so watchable. But of course I found this film more than watchable. Especially in the final fight sequence which stands out in my mind.

Our next feature is Fight, Zatoichi, Fight, and...is that a baby?!?!