I did not recognise Mifune
I knew that he was in the movie, and I kept watching and waiting only to find out at the end that he appears fairly early on. I just did not recognise him. Hmmm...
shareI was the same with "Sword of Doom". It seems, if the director wants, he'll blend in very well. Talent!
" technology...an extension of the human body...It's inevitable that it should come home to roost."
I was the same with "Sword of Doom".I had no problem there. I guess his role/presence was larger in it. Definitely a very fine actor he.
A very good movie "Sword of Doom" share
Agreed, on both accounts.
" technology...an extension of the human body...It's inevitable that it should come home to roost."
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Mifune's face was the image Oharu saw merging with the idol's face at the very beginning. He is seen symbolically as an extremely handsome and strong man. When the movie goes back to the actual events in her life, it is a different actor, less strong and handsome. Mizoguchi was perhaps implying that our memories are distorted by our romanticism; the guy wasn't really as gorgeous as were her memories of him.
Can't take credit for this idea, dang it. It's from "The Waves at Genji's Door: Japan Through It's Cinema" by Joan Mellen, a great and fun read for lovers of Japanese movies. It's much better than the recently published "A new History of Japanese Cinema: A century of narrative film" by Isolde Standish which reads like a doctoral dissertation on aesthetics via reader response generativity. B-o-o-r-r-r-i-i-n-n-g-g.
I think it's a bit misleading to figure Mifune's name so predomimantly when he's only on screen a few seconds. IMHI.
I agree, the actor in the Mifune role isn't Mifune! Perhaps the studio was just trying to cash in on the name he made for himself in Rashomon. I think all publicity for this film (which is certainly a great film) should be altered.
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Mifune's face was the image Oharu saw merging with the idol's face at the very beginning. He is seen symbolically as an extremely handsome and strong man. When the movie goes back to the actual events in her life, it is a different actor, less strong and handsome.Thanks for clearing that up, HHavis. share
You are wrong. It is Mifune, no doubt.
Just watch this movie in good quality with large image resolution and it will be obvious even when Mifune is in the background.
Interesting analysis. Too bad it's based on an entirely wrong assumption.
I don't know how an "expert" author who writes about japanese cinema can make such a mistake, but the truth is that Katsunosuke is played entirely by Mifune. Not only in the first Buddha statue scene, but also throughout the entire first part of Oharu's recollections.
Anyone slightly familiar with japanese cinema should be able to recognize his face, as well as his very characteristic deep masculine voice.
Furthermore, he is top billed (3rd) in the opening titles.
Top billing is the basis for your analysis? That's funny. Can you say marketing?
shareif the director wants, he'll blend in very well.Certainly Hitchcock was a master at this. Even though I know he's in all of his films, I've had terrible trouble spotting him. I think this is because he knows when some visual element is going to completely demand our attention, that we won't even see such a distinctive figure walk right through. share