AW: Films by Minoru Shibuya

[Roland Domenig]

Jiyu gakko is certainly one of Shibuya's best known films and in my opinion one of his best films. The term socially observant comedy fits quite well. Shibuya's and Yoshimura's films are not two parts, however, but two seperate adaptations of Shishi Bunroku's tremendously popular serialized novel. Shochiku (Shibuya) and Daiei (Yoshimura) competed with each other and both films were released within the same week in 1951. Shibuya's version seems to have won the race, at least if you take the Kinejun poll as indicator in which Shibuya's film ranked 13 and Yoshimura's 20. 
Kichigai buraku is a much more uneven film (like, alas, many of Shibuya's films), changing its mood midway. I think (beside Honjitsu kyushin) Tenya wanya (1950) and Gendaijin (1952) are more representative works than Kichigai buraku (1957). I'd say Shibuya was at his best in the early 1950s, in 1957 he was already past his zenith. 

Roland 
 

-----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht-----
Von: owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu im Auftrag von Alexander Jacoby
Gesendet: Di 14.03.2006 12:11
An: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Betreff: Films by Minoru Shibuya
 
Dear all,
   
  Can anyone give me any information about two films by Shibuya, Jiyu Gakko (1951), a two-part film (second part by Yoshimura) and Kichigai Buraku (1957). The Japan Foundation programme notes for Doctor's Day Off (1952) describe these as his other two representative works. Are they similar in tone to Doctor's Day Off - ie, socially observant comedies? Any details anyone can offer about their basic plotlines, style, setting, and how they fit in to Shibuya's overall career will be gratefully received.
   
  ALEX

		
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