If you are going to have a Musashi Miyamoto film marathon, you should consider the "other" version of the story, the one featuring Japan's most popular samurai film star (Mifune was the most popular Japanese samurai film star internationally or outside of Japan).
Nakamura Kinnosuke starred in 6 films as Musashi, the original 5 films made during the 1960's, and an additional film made in the early 1970's which covered an episode in the original story by Eiji Yoshikawa which was left out of the original 5 films.
MIYAMOTO MUSASHI (1961) Miyamoto Musashi: Zen and Sword
Also known as UNTAMED FURY, this film starts as 2 survivors of the Battle Of Sekigahara struggle to escape. The two childhood friends, Takezo and Matahachi manage to get away, and are helped by a mother and daughter who rob the dead of their weapons and armor to sell for a modest living. When brigands come to take the women’s hoard, Takezo bravely steps forward and defeats them single-handedly. When he tries to go back to his hometown he’s hunted down like a dog by the victorious Tokugawa forces, and has to survive cruel treatment. This film introduces us to some of the main characters in Musashi’s life who are seen throughout the entire series.
Directed by: Uchida Tomu
Cast: NAKAMURA Kinnosuke, KIMURA Isao, MIKUNE Rentaro
MIYAMOTO MUSASHI: HANNYAZAKA NO KETTO (1962) Miyamoto Musashi: Showdown at Hannyazaka Heights
Also known as DUEL AT DEVIL’S MASK PASS this film begins when, after spending 3 years of study in isolation, Takezo is brought before the Clan Lord and made a Samurai. At this time he receives the new samurai name that he is to be remembered for, Miyamoto Musashi. Now he travels Japan seeking to develop his sword skill, and goes to Nara near Kyoto to learn from the Hozoin Priests about their unique method of fighting with spears. Along the way he runs afoul of a group of ronin who have been terrorizing the area, and they must meet at Devil’s Mask Pass to see who will live. None of this is in the Mifune/Inagaki version of the Musashi story, though it is one of his greatest battles.
Directed by: Uchida Tomu
Cast: NAKAMURA Kinnosuke, MIKUNE Rentaro
MIYAMOTO MUSASHI: NITORYU KAIGEN (1963) Miyamoto Musashi: Birth of the Two Sword Style
In this film, alternately known as THE WORTHLESS DUEL, Musashi has just slaughtered the vile ronin and vilified the Hozoin Priests for their duplicity, when he sets off to challenge the most famous sword fighting schools in Japan, the Yagyu and the Yoshioka. As the great Grandmaster Yagyu Sekishusai is refusing to meet the young swordsmen from Yoshioka, Musashi comes along looking to challenge the masters of both schools. This is from another part in the book which was not covered at all in the SAMURAI TRILOGY, and is really critical to the understanding of Musashi’s development as a martial artist. When Sasaki Kojiro comes into the picture, the final element is there for the rest of the story to play out. But first Musashi must defeat Yoshioka Seijuro in a challenge against the successor of that famous style
Directed by: Uchida Tomu
Cast: NAKAMURA Kinnosuke, KIMURA Isao, MIKUNE Rentaro
MIYAMOTO MUSASHI: ICHIJOJI NO KETTO (1964) Miyamoto Musashi: The Duel at Ichijoji
After defeating Yoshioka Seijuro in a match, Miyamoto Musashi has become a marked man. Countless people want revenge against him for a variety of reasons, and he is challenged by the Yoshioka family to a rematch, only since the new titular head of the Yoshioka school is a mere child, they can bring in over 100 skilled samurai to fight him in the most memorable version of the famous showdown with the Yoshioka by the lonesome pine tree near Ichijoji Temple. This is the most action packed entry in the series as should be expected. Unlike the whitewash given to Musashi in the earlier version from Toho, Musashi does not hesitate to carry out what needs to be done in order to win a duel against 100 men!
Directed by: Uchida Tomu
Cast: NAKAMURA Kinnosuke, KIMURA Isao, TAKAKURA Ken
MIYAMOTO MUSASHI: GANRYÛ-JIMA NO KETTÔ (1965) Musashi Miyamoto: The Duel at Ganryu Island
The final showdown between the two rival swordsmen comes on Funajima Island when Musashi has to somehow find a way to defeat the 37” long sword that his arch enemy Kojiro uses for his “Swallow-tail” cut. While the clan lord who backs Kojiro plans to ambush Musashi, the time is ripe for one of Musashi’s most famous tricks, that of using an oar to defeat the extremely long sword of his arrogant foe! But how can he escape the vengeance of those who are defeated?
Directed by: Uchida Tomu
Cast: NAKAMURA Kinnosuke, TAKAKURA Ken
MIYAMOTO MUSASHI: SHINKEN SHOBU (1971) Musashi Miyamoto: Swords of Death
It's sword versus chain and sickle as a young Musashi Miyamoto (Kinnosuke Nakamura) develops his famous two sword technique. When Baiken Shishido discovers that Musashi killed his brother-in-law in a fight, he feigns ignorance and invites the swordsman to stay overnight. Determined to avenge his brother-in-laws death he gathers his men around the house and prepares to ambush Musashi at dawn. Sensing the plot Musashi attacks and defeats the men laying in ambush, he then must face his chain and sickle wielding opponent, Baiken. Since he has never faced these weapons before, he must use all his skill and intelligence to win.
Directed by: Uchida Tomu
Cast: NAKAMURA Kinnosuke, KIMURA Isao, MIKUNE Rentaro, TERUO Matsuyama, HIDEKO Okiyama, HIROSHI Tanaka, HIRONOBU Wakamoto
