Actress (1947)
A sweeping portrait of ambition, passion, and sacrifice set against the dawn of modern Japanese theater during the Meiji era.
Actress - Movie Information
- Original Title: 女優
- Release Year: 1947
- Directed by: Teinosuke Kinugasa
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 56m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 29, 1947 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: Joyu (JP)
- Production Companies: TOHO
- Production Countries: Japan
Actress - Plot
During the late Meiji period, at the beginning of the twentieth century, Sumako, a country girl, becomes a great actress with the help of Hogetsu, a scholar who brought European realism to the Japanese stage. The relationship leads to the end of his marriage and the breakup of his Arts Society.
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Actress - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Teinosuke Kinugasa
Main Cast
- Isuzu Yamada
- Yoshi Hijikata
- Ranko Akagi
- Noriko Sengoku
- Fusako Fujima
- Hajime Izu
- Eitarō Shindō
- Shin Date
- Kenji Susukida
- Tatsuya Ishiguro
Writers
- Teinosuke Kinugasa
- Eijiro Hisaita
Producers
- Keiji Matsuzaki
Actress - FAQs
Who plays Sumako Matsui in Actress (1947)?
Isuzu Yamada portrays Sumako Matsui, the pioneering stage actress at the heart of the film. Yamada's commanding performance captures Sumako's fierce ambition and emotional vulnerability as she rises from a provincial background to become one of Japan's most celebrated theatrical figures of the Meiji era.
Is Actress (1947) based on a true story?
Yes, Actress is based on the real lives of Sumako Matsui and Shimamura Hōgetsu. Matsui was a groundbreaking stage actress in early twentieth-century Japan, and her relationship with theater director Hōgetsu Shimamura — who championed Western realism on the Japanese stage — caused a major scandal and reshaped modern Japanese theater.
What is Actress (1947) about?
Set during Japan's late Meiji period, Actress follows Sumako, a young woman from the countryside who transforms into a celebrated stage actress under the mentorship of Hōgetsu Shimamura, a scholar championing European theatrical realism. Their intense personal and professional bond unravels his marriage and fractures the Arts Society he helped build.
Who directed Actress (1947)?
Actress was directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa, a major figure in Japanese cinema known for his pioneering avant-garde silent film A Page of Madness (1926) and later his acclaimed period drama Gate of Hell (1953), which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
What was Sumako Matsui's significance in Japanese theater?
Sumako Matsui was the first major modern actress in Japan, breaking into a theatrical world dominated by male performers. She became famous for her roles in Western plays such as Ibsen's A Doll's House and Tolstoy's Resurrection, bringing a new emotional naturalism to the Japanese stage and igniting fierce public debate about women's roles in art and society.
How long is the film Actress (1947)?
Actress has a runtime of 116 minutes, or approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes.
What language is Actress (1947) in?
Actress is a Japanese-language film. It was produced in Japan by TOHO and released on December 29, 1947. Viewers watching outside Japan will typically require subtitles.
When was Actress (1947) released?
Actress was released in Japan on December 29, 1947. The film was produced by TOHO and is also known by its Japanese alternative title Joyu.
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