Lady from Hell
{{short description|1949 film directed by Motoyoshi Oda}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Lady from Hell
| image = Lady from hell.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Motoyoshi Oda
| producer = Tomoyuki Tanaka{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=70}}
Keiji Matsuzaki
| writer =
| screenplay = Akira Kurosawa{{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Joseph L. |last2=Richie |first2=Donald |title=The Japanese Film: Art and Industry |date=2018 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-18746-4 |page=187 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_9ZDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22lady+from+hell%22+kurosawa&pg=PA187 |accessdate=20 September 2020}}
Motosada Nishiki{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=70}}
| story =
| based_on =
| starring = Michiyo Kogure
Eitaro Ozawa
Takashi Shimura
| narrator =
| music = Ryōichi Hattori{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=70}}
| cinematography = Shunichiro Nakao{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=70}}
| editing =
| studio = Toho
Matsuzaki Productions{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=70}}
| distributor = Toho
| released = {{Film date|1949|03|15|Japan}}
| runtime = 72 minutes{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=70}}
| country = Japan
| language = Japanese
| budget =
| gross =
}}
{{Nihongo|2=地獄の貴婦人|3=Jigoku no Kifujin|4=|lead=yes|Lady from Hell}} 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."{{cite book |last1=Chapman |first1=William |title=Inventing Japan: The Making of a Postwar Civilization |date=1991 |publisher=Prentice Hall Press |isbn=0-13-942921-2 |page=55 |url=https://archive.org/details/inventingjapanma00chap/page/54/mode/2up?q=%22lady+from+hell%22 |accessdate=20 September 2020}} Lady of Hell is regarded as one of Oda's most celebrated films.{{Sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=62}}
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
- Eitarō Ozawa as Fujimura{{Cite web|title=地獄の貴婦人（1949): 作品情報|url=https://eiga.com/movie/73723/|access-date=July 11, 2021|website=映画.com|language=ja}}
- Michiyo Kogure as Mrs. Mibu
- Akitake Kōno as Tachibana
- Takashi Shimura as Chief of Police
- Minoru Takada as Doi
- Shin Tokudaiji as Yoshioka
- Ichiro Ryuzaki as Nango
- Kinzō Shin as Kano
- Yasuo Hisamatsu as Mihara
Production
=Crew=
{{Div col}}
- Motoyoshi Oda – director
- Eiji Tsuburaya – special effects director
- Tomoyuki Tanaka – producer
- Akira Kurosawa – screenwriter
- Minoru Esaka – art director
- Akira Watanabe – special effects art director
{{Div col end}}
=Development=
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| footer = Production stills
| footer_align = left
| image1 = Ladyfromhellproduction1.jpg
| width1 = 130
| image2 = Ladyfromhellproduction2.jpg
| width2 = 130
}}
{{expand section|date=July 2021}}
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.
= Home media =
Asahi Shimbun Publishing – DVD
- Released: October 21, 2019{{Cite web|title=黒澤明ＤＶＤコレクション全国版 （２０１９年１１月３日号）|url=https://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/f/dsg-04-4910325511197|access-date=2021-07-11|website=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|language=ja}}
- Audio: Japanese
- Subtitles: Japanese
- Discs: 1
- Extras:
- Still gallery
- Theatrical poster
- {{EAN|4910325511197}}
References
= Sources =
- {{cite book |last=Galbraith IV |first=Stuart |title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography |year=2008 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-1-4616-7374-3}}
- {{cite book|last=Ryfle|first=Steve|url=https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl|title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of the Big G|publisher=ECW Press|year=1998|isbn=1-55022-348-8}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0141437}}
- {{cite web|title=地獄の貴婦人 (Jigoku no kifujin)|url=http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1949/by000290.htm|access-date=|publisher=Japanese Movie Database|language=ja}}
{{Motoyoshi Oda}}
Category:Films with screenplays by Akira Kurosawa
Category:Japanese black-and-white films
Category:Films directed by Motoyoshi Oda
Category:Japanese action drama films