The Shadow of Fear (1956)
A lean Japanese noir thriller set in postwar Ginza, where a detective unravels the dark secrets behind a brutal strangulation murder.
The Shadow of Fear - Movie Information
- Original Title: 狙われた男
- Release Year: 1956
- Directed by: Kō Nakahira, Koreyoshi Kurahara
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Thriller, Drama, Crime
- Runtime: 1h 8m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 11, 1956 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: Nerawareta otoko (JP)
- Production Companies: Nikkatsu Corporation
- Production Countries: Japan
The Shadow of Fear - Plot
In the backstreets of Ginza, the boss of a hairdressing salon is found dead, killed by strangulation. The detective on the case soon hears rumors about the murder.
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The Shadow of Fear - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Kō Nakahira
- Koreyoshi Kurahara
Main Cast
- Shinsuke Maki
- Keiko Amaji
- Sumiko Minami
- Toshiyuki Ichimura
- Taketoshi Naitō
- Tanie Kitabayashi
- Taiji Tonoyama
- Masami Shimojō
- Tatsuo Matsushita
- Hiroshi Kondō
Writers
- Kaneto Shindō
Producers
- Takiko Mizunoe
The Shadow of Fear - FAQs
What is The Shadow of Fear about?
The Shadow of Fear follows a detective investigating the strangulation murder of a hairdressing salon boss in the backstreets of Ginza. As rumors swirl around the case, the investigation pulls him deeper into the shadowy criminal underworld of 1950s Tokyo. It's a taut, atmospheric noir rooted in postwar Japanese society.
Who directed The Shadow of Fear?
The film was co-directed by Kō Nakahira and Koreyoshi Kurahara, two filmmakers who became key figures in Japanese cinema during the late 1950s and 1960s. Both were associated with Nikkatsu studio and helped define the edgy, stylish tone of Japanese genre filmmaking of that era.
Is The Shadow of Fear connected to Japanese New Wave cinema?
Yes, the film sits at the early edge of the Japanese New Wave movement. Both Nakahira and Kurahara went on to become central figures in that wave, and The Shadow of Fear already shows the gritty urban realism and moral ambiguity that would define the movement throughout the late 1950s and 1960s.
Who wrote the screenplay for The Shadow of Fear?
The screenplay was written by Kaneto Shindō, one of the most respected writers and directors in Japanese film history. Shindō is best known for The Naked Island and Onibaba, and his sharp, socially aware writing style lends The Shadow of Fear its grounded, tension-filled atmosphere.
Who are the main actors in The Shadow of Fear?
The cast features Shinsuke Maki as Yoshio, Keiko Amaji as Fujie, and Sumiko Minami as Makiko, alongside Toshiyuki Ichimura as Yama-san and Taketoshi Naitō as Inspector Yasumoto. The ensemble also includes veteran character actors Tanie Kitabayashi and Taiji Tonoyama, both well-regarded in Japanese cinema.
How long is The Shadow of Fear?
The Shadow of Fear runs just 68 minutes, making it a lean, efficiently paced noir thriller. The compact runtime keeps the tension tight from start to finish, with no room for filler — a hallmark of the brisk B-picture style that Nikkatsu studio favored during this period.
What are similar films to The Shadow of Fear?
Fans of this film will likely enjoy other Japanese classics from the same era, including Pale Flower (1964), Pigs and Battleships (1961), Pitfall (1962), and Woman in the Dunes (1964). These films share a similar mood of urban unease, moral complexity, and stylish black-and-white cinematography rooted in postwar Japan.
When and where was The Shadow of Fear released?
The Shadow of Fear premiered in Japan on September 11, 1956, distributed by Nikkatsu Corporation. It was produced during a creatively fertile period for Nikkatsu, which was actively developing a new generation of genre filmmakers who would reshape Japanese popular cinema over the following decade.
More About The Shadow of Fear
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