Blooded Spear (1959)
A gripping Japanese samurai drama rooted in the legendary tale of the 47 rōnin, honor, and the art of the spear.
Blooded Spear - Movie Information
- Original Title: 血槍無双
- Release Year: 1959
- Directed by: Yasushi Sasaki
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Action
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 1, 1959 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: Chiyari musō (JP)
- Production Companies: Toei Company
- Production Countries: Japan
Blooded Spear - Plot
Edo, 1703. Young Sugino, one of the 47 rōnin seeking revenge against lord Kira, who caused that his master, Asano of Ako, committed seppuku, meets a skillful spear fighter, Genban, who trains him to fight with honor on the day of retribution.
Blooded Spear - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Yasushi Sasaki
Main Cast
- Chiezo Kataoka
- Hiromi Hanazono
- Tomisaburō Wakayama
- Yumiko Hasegawa
- Yataro Kurokawa
- Isao Yamagata
- Kenji Susukida
- Denjirō Ōkōchi
- Hashizo Ōkawa
Writers
- Hideo Oguni
Producers
- Yurin Nakamura
Blooded Spear - FAQs
Is Blooded Spear based on a true story?
Blooded Spear draws on the legendary historical incident of the 47 rōnin, a real event from 1703 Edo-period Japan in which a group of samurai avenged the forced suicide of their master, Lord Asano of Akō. The film fictionalizes elements around this well-documented episode of Japanese history.
Who are the main actors in Blooded Spear?
Blooded Spear features a distinguished cast of Japanese cinema veterans, including Chiezo Kataoka, Hiromi Hanazono, Tomisaburō Wakayama, Yumiko Hasegawa, Yataro Kurokawa, Isao Yamagata, Kenji Susukida, Denjirō Ōkōchi, and Hashizo Ōkawa.
What is Blooded Spear about?
Set in Edo in 1703, Blooded Spear follows young Sugino, one of the 47 rōnin seeking vengeance against Lord Kira for causing his master's ritual death. He encounters Genban, a skilled spear fighter who trains him to face the coming day of retribution with discipline and honor.
How does Blooded Spear connect to the 47 rōnin legend?
The film is set within the famous 47 rōnin narrative, one of Japan's most celebrated samurai stories. Rather than retelling the full legend, it focuses on a single rōnin's personal journey of preparation and mentorship, offering an intimate perspective on the events leading to the historic act of revenge.
Who directed Blooded Spear?
Blooded Spear was directed by Yasushi Sasaki, a filmmaker working within Toei Company's prolific period drama output during Japan's golden age of chanbara cinema in the 1950s.
When was Blooded Spear released?
Blooded Spear was released on November 1, 1959, in Japan. It was produced by Toei Company, one of Japan's major film studios, during a particularly fertile era for samurai and period action films.
What genre is Blooded Spear?
Blooded Spear is a Drama and Action film, more specifically a chanbara — the Japanese genre of sword-fighting period dramas. It combines the honorbound traditions of samurai storytelling with action sequences rooted in classical Japanese martial arts, particularly spear combat.
What are similar movies to Blooded Spear?
Viewers who enjoy Blooded Spear may also appreciate Rashomon (1950), The Last Samurai (2003), and Ben-Hur (1959) for their blend of historical drama and moral depth. Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon in particular shares the Japanese period setting and a preoccupation with honor, truth, and human nature.
More About Blooded Spear
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