is a 1968 Japanese comedy- chambara film directed by

Kihachi Okamoto was a Japanese film director who worked in several different genres. Career Born in Yonago, Okamoto attended Meiji University, but was drafted into the Air Force 1943 and entered World War II, an experience that had a profound effect on his lat ...

. The film had a screenplay written by

Akira Murao Akira may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Akira'' (franchise), a Japanese cyberpunk franchise ** ''Akira'' (manga), a 1980s cyberpunk manga by Katsuhiro Otomo ** ''Akira'' (1988 film), an anime film adaptation of the manga ** ''Akira'' (vide ...

and Okamoto, and is based on the story ''Torideyama no jushichinichi'' () in ''

Yamamoto Shugoro zenshu Yamamoto (written: lit. "base of the mountain") is the 9th most common Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: *, Japanese politician *, Japanese World War II flying ace *, Japanese judoka *, Japanese manga artist and character ...

'' (1964) by Shūgorō Yamamoto.

Plot

Tatsuya Nakadai stars as Genta, a former samurai who became disillusioned with the samurai lifestyle and left it behind to become a wandering

yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the ter ...

gang member. He meets Hanjirō Tabata (Etsushi Takahashi) a farmer who wants to become a samurai to escape his powerless existence. Genta and Tabata wind up on opposite sides of clan intrigue when seven members of a local clan assassinate their chancellor. Although the seven, led by Tetsutarō Oikawa (Naoko Kubo) rebelled with the support of their superior, Ayuzawa (Shigeru Kōyama), he turns on them and sends members of the clan to kill them as outlaws.

Style

The film is a comically exaggerated exploration of what it is to be a samurai. The characters either give up samurai status or fight to attain it, and samurai are seen behaving both honorably and very badly. The film has a parodic tone, with numerous references to earlier samurai films.

Cast

Tatsuya Nakadai is a Japanese film actor. He was featured in 11 films directed by Masaki Kobayashi, including '' The Human Condition'' trilogy, wherein he starred as the lead character Kaji, plus '' Harakiri'', '' Samurai Rebellion'' and '' Kwaidan''. Nakada ...

as Genta (Hyōdō Yagenta) *

Etsushi Takahashi was a Japanese actor from Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture. Takahashi often worked with Kihachi Okamoto and Satsuo Yamamoto. After graduating Rikkyo University, Takahashi joined NHK acting school. In 1964, he joined Bungakuza Theatre Company's ...

as Hanji (Hanjirō Tabata) * Yuriko Hoshi as Chino Kajii *

Naoko Kubo is a feminine Japanese given name which is occasionally spelled . Possible writings Naoko can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *直子, "obedient, child" *尚子, "esteem, child" *奈緒子, "Nara, cord, child" *菜緒 ...

as Tetsutarō Oikawa * Shigeru Kōyama as Ayuzawa * Akira Kubo as Monnosuke Takei *

Seishirō Kuno Seishirō, Seishiro or Seishirou (written: , , , , or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese aikidoka *, Japanese politician *, Japanese general *, Japanese child actor *, Japanese actor *, Japanes ...

as Daijirō Masataka *

Tadao Nakamaru Tadao (written: 忠雄, 忠夫, 忠男, 忠生, 忠郎 or 理男) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese architect *, Japanese ''daimyō'' *Tadao Baba (born 1944), Japanese motorcycle engineer *, Jap ...

as Shōda Magobei *

Eijirō Tōno was a Japanese actor who, in a career lasting more than 50 years, appeared in over 400 television shows, nearly 250 films and numerous stage productions. He is best known in the West for his roles in films by Akira Kurosawa, such as '' Seven Sam ...

as Moriuchi Hyōgo * Shin Kishida as Jurota Arao * Atsuo Nakamura as Tetsutaro * Ryosuke Kagawa as Mizoguchi *

Takeo Chii was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1968 and 2012. Biography Chii was the youngest of eight brothers. He made his acting debut in 1968. He made his film debut with Kihachi Okamoto's ''Kill!''. Chii married actress Sa ...

as Yoshida Yaheiji *

Susumu Kurobe (born ; 22 October 1939) is a television, film and stage actor from Kurobe, Toyama, Japan, widely known for his portrayal of Shin Hayata, the first Ultraman in the '' titular character series'', a role he has played since the original series in ...

as Ayusawa Kinzaburo *

Isao Hashimoto is a masculine Japanese given name which was popular during the Shōwa period. Possible writings Isao can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *功, "achievement" *勲, "meritorious" *績, "exploits" *公, "public" *勇男 ...

as Konosuke Fujii *

Yoshio Tsuchiya was a Japanese actor who appeared in such films as Toshio Matsumoto's surreal ''Bara No Soretsu'' (a.k.a. ''Funeral Parade of Roses'') and Akira Kurosawa's ''Seven Samurai'' (as the firebrand farmer Rikichi) and ''Red Beard'', and Kihachi Okamot ...

as Matsuo Shiroku * Hideyo Amamoto as Shimada Gendaiu

Release

''Kill!'' was released theatrically in Japan on 22 June 1968 where it was distributed by

Toho is a Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the produc ...

. It was released in the United States by Frank lee International with English subtitles in August 1968.

Reception

Along with '' Human Bullet'' and ''

Judge and Jeopardy is a 1968 Japanese drama film directed by Shiro Moritani. It is based on the story "The Lawyer" by attorney Hiroshi Masaki and his account of Japan's "Headless Murder Case" in which a police officer beat a suspect to death during the Pacific War. ...

'', ''Kill!'' gave art director Iwao Akune the award for Best Art Direction at the Mainichi Film Concours.

References

Sources

External links

* *
''Kill!: Pardon My Dust''
an essay by Howard Hampton at the

Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection, Inc. (or simply Criterion) is an American home video, home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films." Criterion serves film and media scho ...

''Kill!: Rebel Samurai Cinema''
an essay by Chris D. at the

1968 films Films based on Japanese novels Films directed by Kihachi Okamoto 1960s Japanese-language films Samurai films Films produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka Films scored by Masaru Sato Toho films 1960s Japanese films {{1960s-Japan-film-stub