Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film

by D. Chris

Overview

"Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film" offers an extraordinary close-up of the hitherto overlooked golden age of Japanese cult, action and exploitation cinema from the early 1950s through to the late 1970s, and up to the present day. Having unique access to the top maverick filmmakers and Japanese genre film icons, Chris D. brings together interviews with, and original writings on, the lives and films of such transgressive directors as Kinji Fukasaku ("Battles Without Honour and Humanity"), Seijun Suzuki ("Branded to Kill") and Koji Wakamatsu ("Ecstasy of the Angels") as well as performers like Shinichi 'Sonny' Chiba ("The Streetfighter', 'Kill Bill Vol. 1") and glamorous actress Meiko Kaji ("Lady Snowblood"). Bringing the story up to date with an overview of such Japanese 'enfants terrible' as Takashi Miike ("Audition") and Kiyoshi Kurasawa ("Cure"), the book also provides a compendium of facts and extras including filmographies, related bibliographies on genre fiction including Manga, and a section on female yakuzas. Illustrated with fantastic stills and posters from some of Japan's finest cult and action films, this is a veritable bible for fans and newcomers alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845110901
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/27/2005
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.96(w) x 9.70(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Chris D. is author of the forthcoming 'Gun and Sword: Yakuza Eiga - An Encyclopedia of Japanese Gangster Films 1956-1980'. He is a programmer at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, California and his first feature film as director, 'I Pass for Human', has recently had limited festival release in the US. He is also leader of the rock bands The Flesh Eaters and Divine Horsemen.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements * Introduction * Glossary * Kinji Fukasaku * Eiichi Kudo * Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba * Meiko Kaji * Junya Sato * Kihachi Okamoto * Kazuo Ikehiro * Masahiro Shinoda * Yasuharu Hasebe * Seijun Suzuki * Teruo Ishii * Koji Wakamatsu * Takashi Miike * Kiyoshi Kurosawa * Appendices: Japanese ‘Outlaw’ Films on DVD (subtitled in English) * Japanese ‘Outlaw’ Film Series * Female Yakuzas * The Studios * Selected Japanese ‘Outlaw’ Collaborators (screenwriters, cinematographers, composers) * Pantheon ‘Outlaw’ Directors (not represented in book) * Bibliography * Bibliography Appendix – Fiction, Manga, Non-Fiction

Editorial Reviews

""Legends have a basis in both a perceived 'virtual' reality and in a 'true life' reality. Chris D.'s book shows both sides, which is essential in understanding how filmmaking legends are born."" -- Takashi Miike (director of such films as ""Ichi, Dead or Alive"" and ""Audition.""

From the Publisher