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IMDbPro

The Sword of Doom

Original title: Dai-bosatsu tôge
  • 19661966
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Toshirô Mifune, Yûzô Kayama, and Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom (1966)
Through his unconscionable actions against others, a sociopath samurai builds a trail of vendettas that follow him closely.
Play trailer2:27
1 Video
30 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
Through his unconscionable actions against others, a sociopath samurai builds a trail of vendettas that follow him closely.Through his unconscionable actions against others, a sociopath samurai builds a trail of vendettas that follow him closely.Through his unconscionable actions against others, a sociopath samurai builds a trail of vendettas that follow him closely.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Kihachi Okamoto
  • Writers
    • Shinobu Hashimoto(screenplay)
    • Kaizan Nakazato(novel)
  • Stars
    • Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Michiyo Aratama
    • Yûzô Kayama
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kihachi Okamoto
  • Writers
    • Shinobu Hashimoto(screenplay)
    • Kaizan Nakazato(novel)
  • Stars
    • Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Michiyo Aratama
    • Yûzô Kayama
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 73User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    Trailer

    Photos30

    Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom (1966)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom (1966)
    Michiyo Aratama and Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom (1966)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom (1966)
    Toshirô Mifune in The Sword of Doom (1966)
    The Sword of Doom (1966)
    The Sword of Doom (1966)
    The Sword of Doom (1966)
    Yôko Naitô in The Sword of Doom (1966)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom (1966)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom (1966)
    The Sword of Doom (1966)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Ryunosuke Tsukueas Ryunosuke Tsukue
    Michiyo Aratama
    Michiyo Aratama
    • Ohamaas Ohama
    Yûzô Kayama
    Yûzô Kayama
    • Hyoma Utsukias Hyoma Utsuki
    Yôko Naitô
    • Omatsuas Omatsu
    Tadao Nakamaru
    Tadao Nakamaru
    • Isami Kondoas Isami Kondo
    Kei Satô
    Kei Satô
    • Kamo Serizawaas Kamo Serizawa
    Kô Nishimura
    Kô Nishimura
    • Shichibei, Omatsu's 'uncle'as Shichibei, Omatsu's 'uncle'
    Ichirô Nakatani
    Ichirô Nakatani
    • Bunnojo Utsukias Bunnojo Utsuki
    Kunie Tanaka
    Kunie Tanaka
    • Senkichias Senkichi
    Toshirô Mifune
    Toshirô Mifune
    • Toranosuke Shimadaas Toranosuke Shimada
    Ryôsuke Kagawa
    Ryôsuke Kagawa
    • Dansho Tsukueas Dansho Tsukue
    Kamatari Fujiwara
    Kamatari Fujiwara
    • Omatsu's grandfatheras Omatsu's grandfather
    Hideyo Amamoto
    Hideyo Amamoto
    • Shuzen Kamioas Shuzen Kamio
    Akio Miyabe
    • Toshizo Hijikataas Toshizo Hijikata
    Yasuzô Ogawa
    • Yohachias Yohachi
    Kyôji Hayakawa
    • Heisuke Todoas Heisuke Todo
    Atsuko Kawaguchi
    Atsuko Kawaguchi
    • Okinuas Okinu
    Shôji Ôki
    • Soji Okitaas Soji Okita
    • Director
      • Kihachi Okamoto
    • Writers
      • Shinobu Hashimoto(screenplay)
      • Kaizan Nakazato(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The abrupt ending of the film is due to the fact that it was originally intended to be the first part in a trilogy of films based on a lengthy Japanese novel. Nakazato Kaizan's 41 volume historical novel focused on the Edo period in Japanese history when the shogunate collapsed and a new government arose that revolved around the Emperor. It was the longest novel in Japan - encompassing 1533 chapters and over 5 and a half million Japanese characters - until the publication of Sohachi Yamaoka's serialized novel "Tokugawa Ieyasu", which is reportedly the longest novel in any language.
    • Quotes

      Toranosuke Shimada: The sword is the soul. Study the soul to know the sword. Evil mind, evil sword.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Samurai Movies (2016)

    User reviews73

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A magnificently executed exploration of amorality.
    "Sword of Doom" is an unusual film. Firstly, it is one of the most brilliantly photographed films I have ever seen, in composition, mise en scene, and the play of black and white.

    Secondly, "Sword of Doom" is that rare film in which the aim of the director and the power of the lead mesh together to form an unforgettable portrayal.

    Tatsuya Nakadai plays Ryunosuke, a skilled swordsman, who, from the opening moments of the film, proves also to be homicidally indifferent to human life. Ryunosuke is a strange and difficult character. His fighting style is passive, and he remains mostly uninvolved, both with the political turmoil surrounding him, and with his family - from his dying father, who fears the evil in him, to his lover (the wife of an opponent he kills) and his child. Nakadai's performance is magnetic, comparable to Montgomery Clift in it's singleminded, unyielding intensity.

    While some of the subplots without Ryunosuke aren't quite as compelling, the ending is memorable and disturbing, and the direction will remind in some ways of Orson Wells.
    helpful•21
    5
    • Bessemer
    • May 5, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 1, 1966 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Меч судьбы
    • Filming locations
      • Japan
    • Production companies
      • Takarazuka Eiga Company Ltd.
      • Toho Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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