Yasuzo Masumura appreciation thread

[T.H.]

I've only seen 5 or 6 of his movies but was very impressed with his work, especially Blind Beast, red angel and Manji. Giants and Toys and afraid to die are worth watching, especially the former. He's like Suzuki in that he works with studios at a feverish pace, yet somehow creates unique movies void of the usual studio trappings.


Update in 2020: Blind Beast (1969) and Giants and Toys (1958) are his masterworks and Black Test Car (1962) and Red Angel (1966) are also very high quality.

[dave jenkins]

Hmmm, I just saw the trailers for Blind Beast and Red Angel and . . . I don't think I want to go there.

[T.H.]

I think you would really like Red Angel (1966).

[dave jenkins]

It looked like the better of the two. I might give it a try, although it's never going to be a top priority. To be honest, I'm not all that keen on Seijun Suzuki either.

[T.H.]

It looked like the better of the two. I might give it a try, although it's never going to be a top priority. To be honest, I'm not all that keen on Seijun Suzuki either.

really? I could have sworn you had a youth of the beast picture at one point, or am I wrong?

[dave jenkins]

Youth of the Beast is the one picture of his I like.

[T.H.]

no love for branded to kill?

[dave jenkins]

No, I couldn't get through it. I liked Tokyo Drifter the first time I saw it, but trying to watch it again brought little joy. Youth of the Beast, by contrast, has great re-watchability.

[T.H.]

I like TD but admit it's a little ridiculous - that song is just...absurd. you should give Branded another shot, DJ.

[dave jenkins]

I like TD but admit it's a little ridiculous - that song is just...absurd. 

Well, it's enka, or a parody of enka. I usually hate enka, but I kinda enjoy that song. It's the one enka I can imagine myself making an attempt at the next time I visit karaoke box with my Yakuza buddies.

[dave jenkins]

Well, I've now seen 3 films of his: Black Test Car, The Black Report, and Black Super-express. All three are good, but The Black Report is a cut above, a perfect film. I think all are adapted from novels. All are in b&w and 2.35:1. And man, does Masumura know how to fill a 'scope frame. In The Black Report he'll sometimes put the principal action in the background and then show a character in the foreground commenting on what's happening with a look or laugh or a nod. He likes low angle shots, tight framing, quick-but-not-too-quick cuts. He also likes to show how people do things with (or to) their equipment--in that respect, he's the William Friedkin of Japan. I'm looking forward to watching more of his stuff.

[dave jenkins]

Giants and Toys, blu debut, May 11: https://www.amazon.com/Giants-Special-Blu-ray-Hiroshi-Kawaguchi/dp/B08XLNTLQV/

Irezumi coming in June . . .

[dave jenkins]

And now Blind Beast has been announced!

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio
Optional English subtitles
Brand new audio commentary by Asian cinema scholar Earl Jackson
Newly filmed introduction by Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns
Blind Beast: Masumura the Supersensualist, a brand new visual essay by Japanese literature and visual studies scholar Seth Jacobowitz
Original Trailer
Image Gallery
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by Virginie S?lavy.

[T.H.]

Oh wow. Thanks for the great news DJ. Several years ago, I didn't think most of the 50s-70s Japanese stuff would be released on bluray, so all these releases have been great.

I hope Red Angel is next.

[dave jenkins]

Oh wow. Thanks for the great news DJ. Several years ago, I didn't think most of the 50s-70s Japanese stuff would be released on bluray, so all these releases have been great.

I hope Red Angel is next.

I'm guessing that either it or Manji will be next. I've been on a Masumura kick lately and have seen several films on the net that I'd like to own on blu: Kisses, Warm Current, Black Super-Express, and The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka.