Softcover

ISBN 10: 4900849626 ISBN 13: 9784900849624

Verlag: Urban Connections, 2003

Once lost classics of Japanese silent film are now being brought back to life From the end of the Meiji period to the beginning of the Showa period, film in Japan flowered as a source of entertainment for the masses. During that period, world acclaimed directors such as Kenji Mizokuchi and Yasujiro Ozu created many masterpieces of Japanese silent cinema. Unfortunately most of the films of the Japanese silent era have been lost, either due to the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923, the Second World War, or because of a historical lack of knowledge concerning film preservation. Almost all of the old classics can now no longer be viewed. Recalling the Treasures of Japanese Cinema explores 50 of these long-lost works - and one that was recently found again. It is the result of five decades of painstaking research and documentary reconstruction by the Friends of Silent Film Association. Each section of the book introduces a different work and includes information such as the year of production, the production company, staff, actors, and other basic data, in addition to commentary about the film, and still frames of film scenes. Information is provided about any existing archives (preservation of surviving film segments, scenarios, etc.), making this a book that will be indispensable to scholars of film history and film lovers alike. The book includes a list of the top ten films as published by Kinema Junpo from 1926-1935, an invaluable resource for research purposes. Titles include: Kyoya Erimise (1921, Director: Eizo Tanaka) Chuji Tabi Nikki (1927, Director: Daisuke Ito) Bangaku no Issho (1933, Director: Sadao Yamanaka) Nihonbashi (1929, Director: Kenji Mizoguchi) Zange no Yaiba (1927, Director: Yasujiro Ozu) as well as 46 other titles, including basic data, commentaries and stills.