RASHOMON

Toshiro Mifune

RASHOMON (1950). Director: Akira Kurosawa.

Taking shelter in a rainstorm in the district of Rashomon, a traveler (Kichijiro Ueda) encounters a priest (Minoru Chiaki) and a woodcutter (Takashi Shimura) who attended a trial concerning a murdered samurai, Takehiro Kanazawa (Masayuki Mori). They tell the traveler of the disparate accounts given to the court by various witnesses, including an infamous bandit, Tajomaru (Toshiro Mifune), who encountered Kanazawa and his wife, Masako (Machiko Kyo), in the forest. Tajomaru claims he had his way with the wife, but only killed her husband when she insisted they fight a duel over her. Then the wife claims her husband was disgusted with her, and she may have stabbed him during a black out. The husband's ghost, via a medium, says that his wife asked the bandit to kill him and he later committed suicide. The woodcutter, who did not tell his story to the court, tells the traveler that he witnessed everything, and his account is entirely different from what the others have said. Rashomon is a thought-provoking and fascinating movie that greatly benefits not only from some wonderful performances but from striking cinematography by Kazuo Miyagawa and an interesting score by Fumio Hayasaka (although I guestion Kurasawa's insistence on doing a riff on Ravel's Bolero). The picture proceeds as an allegorical dream and works beautifully on that level, although some viewers may be insistent on more clear-cut answers than the film provides. Mifune's performance borders on caricature at times, but Machiko Lyo as the raped and abandoned wife, is especially excellent. The picture has an almost-feminist perspective (intended or not) yet it also suggests the old style attitude of the duplicitous nature of females. This was remade as The Outrage, with Paul Newman surprisingly effective as the bandit.

Verdict: A classic. ***1/2. 

SCANDAL

Toshiro Mifune

 SCANDAL (1950). Director: Akira Kurosawa.

A well-known artist named Ichiro (Toshiro Mifune) is painting on a mountainside when he encounters a famous singer, whom he at first doesn't recognize, named Miyako (Shirley Yamaguchi). Offering her a lift, they check into separate rooms at a hotel, but talk to one another on a balcony later on. Some tabloid journalists see the two, assume they are having an affair, snap their picture, and bring it to Hori (Eitaro Ozawa of The H-Man), the publisher of Amour.  Although neither Ichiro or Miyako are married (which in itself may be a problem), the photo causes a scandal and embarrasses the both of them. Ichiro hires a lawyer named Hiruta (Takashi Shimura), whose young daughter, Masako (Yoko Katsuragi), is ill and has been confined to her bed for years. Miyako decides to join Ichiro in the lawsuit, but when Hirata goes to see Hiro, the former may succumb to his basest urges ... Scandal is a relatively minor film from the famous Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, but it is not without merit and its poignant moments. Scandal reminds one of a Japanese Frank Capra film (admittedly not one of the really great Capra films), with its mix of pathos, humor and sentiment. In later years star Mifune was known for his gruff and acclaimed portrayals of outlaws, Samurai, and the like, but this is his matinee idol stage, and he is quite good-looking and sexy. His part, as well as Yamaguchi's, is underwritten, however, and the viewer never gets to know these two faux lovers very well. This is perhaps all right, as the film truly belongs to Hiruta (beautifully portrayed by another Kurosawa regular, Shimura), the lawyer who has a crisis of conscience in the face of a crushing tragedy, and the film ends on a sombre note. Tanie Kitabayashi also scores as Hiruta's wife, and the other performances are all well-played. It's a little strange to watch a crowd scene in which dozens of extras are singing "Auld Lang Syne" in Japanese!    

Verdict: Takes a while to get going, but this is not without interest. ***.