Zigomar

[Peter B. High]

<20000517003823.9FAAC1576F at smtp02.mail.gol.com> ??
   "Re: Zigomar" ?????
  

An agent for the Yokohama trading firm, Niiroppu (original name in katakana--I have no idea of how they actually romanized 
their name) came across the Victorin Jasset feature *Zigomar* (Eclaire, 1909) in London in mid-1910 (London being the 
world film exchange at the time). He snapped it up and sent it off to the Japanese film production/distribution company 
FUKUHODO . Apparently some Fukuhodo executives remained skeptical about  the film and they waited a whole year before 
releasing it for distribution. Its first venue of show, according to my sources, was the Kinryukan in Tokyo. Apparently it 
was an almost instant hit and this inspired two of Fukuhodo's rivals, Yoshizawa Shoten and M. Pathe (no rel. to the French 
co., Pathe Freres), to attempt several "Japanese Zigomar" versions. According to  Matsuura Kozo (ed.) *Nihon Eigashi 
Taikan*	(Tokyo: Bunka Shuppankyoku, 1982), 70, these included Yoshizawa's  *Nihon Zigomar* (1912), *Nihon Zigomar Kaishin 
Roku* (1912) and M.Pathe's *Shin Zigomar Tantei* (1912). The slightly later Yoshizawa feature *Dai Akuma* (1912) was also 
apparently inspired by Zigomar. There were also French sequels to *Zigomar*, but I have no information about them. One 
good (English language) contact for such would be Ben Singer who is I believe still at Brown U. (he's due to move to U of 
Wisconsin within the year, though). As far as I know, none of the "Japanese Zigomars" have survived. As for the original, 
I have seen a few very brief clips incorporated in the documentary omnibus film, *Nihon Eigashi (Pt I)* first released in 
1941 by The Greater Japan Film Association (Dai-Nihon Eiga Kyokai) and then re-relased on 8 mm. by Shochiku postwar. 
The immediate cause (or inspiration, rather) for the crack down was the death of Emperor Meiji which occurred just as the 
Zigomar boom was at its height. Apparently the Tokyo Asahi Shinbun launched the anti-Zigomar crusade with an editorial on 
October 5, under the title of "A Great Fear of Social Unrest." More than the film itself, the problem appears to have been 
the Zigomar-related merchandise (burglar masks and toy pistols) sold to youngsters both at the theaters and at nearby 
shops. According to Tanaka Jun'ichiro, * Nihon Eiga Hattatsu-shi, Vol. I * (Tokyo: Chuo Koronsha, 1957), 170, the 
distribution of "all features bearing the name Zigomar in their titles" was put into effect as of October 20, 1912. In a 
private conversation, Japan's leading scholar/collector of documents on Japanese film history,  Makino Mamoru, claimed to 
have searched and to have found no specific instances of "youth crimes inspired by Zigomar." 
--Aaron, anything to add on this?
--
Peter B. High
j45843a at nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp





> A friend and researcher of Japanese criminal history, Mark Schreiber, asked
> me to post this query about the Zigomar films, which inspired numerous
> imitations in Japan and had a large impact on Japanese film-goers in the
> silent period. If you feel this is too off-topic for the list please
> contact Mark directly at <chan at gol.com>
> 
> Mark Schilling 
> 
> The film about the phantom criminal known as Zigomar premiered in an
> Asakusa theater November 11, 1911 and it, or subsequent installments in the
> series, were shown until the ban imposed by the MPD on October 29, 1912.
> 
> I would like to know anything about the film's actual title(s) in French,
> the names of the director and actor(s), how many films were made in the
> series, when the series originated, and perhaps a simple summary of the
> plots.
> 
> Any references to the crimes it allegedly inspired -- thus prompting the
> ban -- would also be appreciated.
> 
> Mark Schreiber 
> chan at gol.com
> 
>