Bando Tsumasaburo

A film actor. His real name was Tamura Denkichi. He was born in Tokyo on December 14, 1901. He graduated from Nihonbashi Elementary School. He became a disciple of the XIth Kataoka Nizaemon, but switched to small-scale acting under the name Bando Tsumasaburo. In 1923 (Taisho 12), he joined the early Makino Film Company. After several supporting roles in films, he gained popularity with his lead role in "Fresh Blood Handprints" (1923), written by his close friend Suzuki Rokuhei. He quickly became a popular star with his realistic sword fighting scenes and nihilistic roles such as a rebellious swordsman living a life full of suffering in films such as "The Slayer" (1924) and "Kageboshi" (1925), and in 1925 he became the leader of an independent production company. He established his reputation as the king of swordplay with "Orochi" (1925), the film whose intense climax is still talked about today. After many twists and turns, he continued with Bantsuma Productions until 1936 (Showa 11), but was not blessed with many films, so he joined Nikkatsu as an actor. Gradually overcoming his vocal problems, which were unsuitable for talkies, he had his breakthrough in acting with his role as Katsu Kaishu in "The Last Day of Edo" (1941), and in 1943's "The Life of a Hobbit," he broke new ground by playing a pure, ignorant commoner, a complete departure from his previous heroic roles. Even after the Second World War, he continued to play period dramas such as "The Wanderer" (1947) and "The Oboro Kago" (1951), but he also created unique, unparalleled characters in his roles as Sakata Sankichi in "The Throne" (1948) and the stubborn old man in the modern comedy "Break Drum" (1949). He died in Kyoto on July 7, 1953. The actors Tamura Takahiro (1928-2006), Tamura Masakazu (1943-2021), and Tamura Ryo (1946- ) were his children.

[Yoshida Chieo]

"King of Swordsmanship Bando Tsumasaburo" by Maruyama Shohei (1998, Wise Publishing)" ▽ "Bando Tsumasaburo" by Akishino Kentaro (1977, Mainichi Shimbun)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

映画俳優。本名田村伝吉。明治34年12月14日東京に生まれる。日本橋高等小学校卒業。11世片岡仁左衛門の弟子となったが、小芝居に転じて阪東妻三郎を名のる。1923年（大正12）草創期のマキノ映画に入社。何本かに助演ののち、親友寿々喜多呂九平(すずきたろくへい)の脚本による『鮮血の手型』（1923）に主演して人気を得、『討たるゝ者』（1924）、『影法師』（1925）など、苦悩に満ちた人生を歩む反逆の剣士といったニヒルな役柄とリアルな殺陣(たて)で、またたくまに人気スターとなり、1925年には独立プロの盟主となった。クライマックスの激しい立回りがいまも語りぐさの『雄呂血(おろち)』（1925）によって剣戟(けんげき)王阪妻(ばんつま)の名を確立。阪妻プロは曲折を経て1936年（昭和11）まで続くが、作品的には恵まれず、一俳優として日活に入社。トーキーに不向きな発声を徐々に克服して『江戸最後の日』（1941）の勝海舟(かつかいしゅう)で演技開眼、1943年の『無法松の一生』で、これまでの英雄的役柄から一転して無知な庶民の純粋な人間像に新境地を開いた。第二次世界大戦後も、『素浪人罷(まか)り通る』（1947）、『おぼろ駕籠(かご)』（1951）などの時代劇を主に風格をみせたが、『王将』（1948）の阪田三吉、現代コメディ『破れ太鼓』（1949）の頑固親爺(おやじ)に、他の追随を許さぬ独自の人間像をつくりあげた。昭和28年7月7日京都で没。俳優の田村高廣(たかひろ)（1928―2006）、田村正和(まさかず)（1943―2021）、田村亮(りょう)（1946―　）は実子である。

［吉田智恵男］

『丸山敞平著『剣戟王阪東妻三郎』（1998・ワイズ出版）』▽『秋篠健太郎著『阪東妻三郎』（1977・毎日新聞社）』

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