Gate of Hell/地獄門 (Jigokumon) (1953) - Kinugasa's break-out jidaigeki, a visual feast

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A very dramatic embrace in heightened reality colors makes up this sharp poster for Teinosuke Kinugasa's Gate of Hell

Following a dramatic coup attempt, a loyal samurai, whose brother died as one of the rebels, has his deepest wish fulfilled. - But his wish, - a woman who is already married, - was too high. - Still he is determined to have it.

 

Gate of Hell is written by Masaichi Nagata (Poppy/Gubijinsô (1935, producer)) and co-writer/director Teinosuke Kinugasa (Aa, Konishi Junsa (1922)), based on the play Kesa's Husband by Kan Kikuchi (Seishun zue (1931, novel)).

When the rebellion action scenes are over and done with, the real story is finally laid bare, and it is a strangely attractive and very strange one at that. The audience who is interested in Japanese culture and history cannot but be sucked into Gate of Hell. For a long while it leaves one not exactly knowing what to make of it, but in time the samurai courter reveals his true face. SPOILER The story is concluded completely unlike its beginning; incredibly slowly and quiet as a mouse.

The probably highest quality about Gate of Hell is its visual side; it is a cornucopia of irresistible picturesque splendor, frenzied, vibrant Eastman Color and fabulous costumes. The feeling of realism consequently escapes the experience, as one finds oneself entrenched in an incredible image.

 

 

Here's a video from Erik, the Asian Movie Enthusiast of 10 Japanese movies from the 1950s that we should watch

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: Unknown

= Uncertain

[Gate of Hell premiered 31 October (Japan) and runs 86 minutes. Shooting took place from July - September 1953 in Tokyo, Japan. The film is an example of the Japanese jidaigeki genre, period costume dramas. It was Daiei's first color film and the first Japanese color film, which was released internationally. Its theatrical performance numbers are regrettably not readily available online. The film was nominated for 2 Oscars, both of which it won: Best Foreign Film and Best Costume Design, Color. It also won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, was nominated for a BAFTA, won a National Board of Review award amid other honors. Kinugasa returned with Yuki no yo no ketto (1954). Kazuo Hasegawa (Scars of Honor/Kizu senryô (1960)) returned in Omatsuri hanjirô (1953); Machiko Kyô (Buddha/Shaka (1961)) in Aru onna (1954). Gate of Hell is fresh at 100 % with an 8.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Gate of Hell?