Sanmon Yakusha
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Kaneto Shindo
Nobuko Otowa
Naoto Takenaka
Yoko Oginome
Hideko Yoshida
Hikaru Hayashi
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Taiji Tonoyama, who called himself a dime actor, was a prolific presence in Japanese cinema for over three decades. A man with a big appetite for women, alcohol and mystery stories, he played in over 250 films of all types, mostly character and supporting roles. Born in 1915 in Ginza, he never was as popular as an actor as he was with women. This dramatized portrait of Tonoyama shows how in 1951, while co-starring in "The Story of a Beloved Wife" opposite Nobuko Otowa, he meets a 17-year-old waitress Kimie. Though Tonoyama is already married (his wife Asako is in Kamakura), he begins an affair with Kimie. Though he realizes that this relationship is harmful to everyone, he keeps it going all his life.
Director
Kaneto Shindo
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Based upon the book "Sammon yakusha no shi/ Death of a Dime Actor".
Actor Taiji Tonoyama appeared in several of director Kaneto Shindo's films, including "The Island" (Japan/1961), "The Man" (Japan/1962), "Mother" (Japan/1963), "Onibaba/ The Hole" (Japan/1964) and "The Conquest" (Japan/1965).
Shown at Montreal World Film Festival (World Greats) August 24 - September 4, 2000.
35mm
color and b&w
