"Ukiyoe artist: Purple Hood"

After leaving Nikkatsu, Makino Shozo founded his own film company and in 1922 produced The True Story of Chushingura, which broke away from the Kabuki style, and the following year, in 1923, produced an unconventional sword fighting film. This was Ukiyo-e Artist: Purple Hood, written by Susukita Rokkehei, directed by Kanamori Bansho, and starring Ichikawa Hataya. It was full of freshness in every respect: the sense of speed in the screen development, the mysterious romantic charm of the story, the vividness of the nihilistic characters, and the realism of the sword fight scenes. Following the great success of this film, Makino Films produced a series of period dramas written by Susukita Rokkuhei, including "Handprints in Fresh Blood" and "The Slain One" directed by Numata Koroku, and "Reverse Flow" and "Edo Kaitoden: Kageboshi" directed by Futagawa Buntaro. Bando Tsumasaburo, who starred in these films, became an instant star and was even called the "King of Swordplay."

*Some of the terminology used in reference to "Ukiyo-e Artist: Purple Hood" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…日活を離れた牧野省三は，みずから映画会社を興し，1922年，歌舞伎的様式から脱した《実録忠臣蔵》をつくったあと，翌23年，型破りのチャンバラ映画を出現させた。寿々喜多呂九平（すすきだろくへい）脚本，金森万象監督，市川幡谷主演《浮世絵師･紫頭巾》がそれで，画面展開のスピード感，物語の怪奇ロマン的魅力，虚無的な人物像のなまなましさ，そして真剣を用いた立回りの迫真性と，あらゆる点で新鮮さに満ちていた。この作品の大ヒットに続いて，マキノ映画では，沼田紅緑監督《鮮血の手型》《討たるゝ者》や二川文太郎監督《逆流》《江戸怪盗伝･影法師》等々，寿々喜多呂九平脚本の時代劇が連作され，これらに主演した阪東妻三郎は一躍スターになって，〈剣戟（けんげき）王〉とまでいわれた。…

※「《浮世絵師・紫頭巾》」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報