Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Lady from Hell

Lady from Hell
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMotoyoshi Oda
Screenplay byAkira Kurosawa[1]
Motosada Nishiki[2]
Produced byTomoyuki Tanaka[2]
Keiji Matsuzaki
StarringMichiyo Kogure
Eitaro Ozawa
Takashi Shimura
CinematographyShunichiro Nakao[2]
Music byRyōichi Hattori[2]
Production
companies
Toho
Matsuzaki Productions[2]
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • March 15, 1949 (1949-03-15) (Japan)
Running time
72 minutes[2]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Lady from Hell (Japanese: 地獄の貴婦人, Hepburn: Jigoku no Kifujin) is a 1949 Japanese action drama film directed by Motoyoshi Oda and co-written by Akira Kurosawa, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film has been called a "protest movie" which "portrayed a cornucopia of corruption and indicted every known example of postwar exploitation: black-marketeering, crooked politicians, blackmailing journalists, and a decaying aristocracy."[3] Lady of Hell is regarded as one of Oda's most celebrated films.[4]

Plot

It has been three and a half years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Japan is facing severe economic turmoil due to inflation. In an effort to stabilize the economy, the tax authorities establish a "T-men" squad to investigate tax evasion, one of the primary causes of economic instability.

The investigation focuses on Fujimura Sangyo, a company suspected of maintaining fraudulent financial records. Despite a thorough inspection by the T-men and police, the incriminating documents remain undiscovered. Meanwhile, journalist Tachibana is determined to uncover the truth and continues his pursuit of the case.

At the same time, political figure Nango is romantically involved with former Countess Mibu, who also becomes the object of Fujimura's interest. As political corruption and corporate fraud intertwine, Tachibana discovers crucial evidence linking Nango and Fujimura Sangyo. However, before he can reveal his findings, he mysteriously disappears.

The authorities intensify their investigation, leading to a dramatic confrontation between the police, the T-men, and the corrupt parties involved. Fujimura, desperate to protect his influence, resorts to extreme measures. In a final clash in Atami, Fujimura meets his downfall, bringing resolution to the tangled web of corruption. As the case concludes, the T-men reflect on their mission, stating, "The future is important."


Cast

Production

Crew

Personnel taken from Eiga.com.[5]

Development

Production stills

The film is one of Toho's first films to use heavy special effects, the technology was then reused for the 1954 Godzilla film. The film's screenplay was co-written by Akira Kurosawa and Motosada Nishiki.

Release

Theatrical

Lady from Hell was released in Japan on March 15, 1949, where it was distributed by Toho.[5]

Home media

Asahi Shimbun Publishing – DVD

References

  1. ^ Anderson, Joseph L.; Richie, Donald (2018). The Japanese Film: Art and Industry. Princeton University Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-0-691-18746-4. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Galbraith IV 2008, p. 70.
  3. ^ Chapman, William (1991). Inventing Japan: The Making of a Postwar Civilization. Prentice Hall Press. p. 55. ISBN 0-13-942921-2. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. ^ Ryfle 1998, p. 62.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "地獄の貴婦人(1949): 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "黒澤明DVDコレクション全国版 (2019年11月3日号)". 紀伊國屋書店ウェブストア|オンライン書店|本、雑誌の通販、電子書籍ストア (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-11.

Sources