LONE WOLF AND CUB: SWORD OF VENGEANCE - PART 1 (1972)
Directed by Kenji Misumi
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Fumio Watanabe
Genre: Samurai/Chambara
Running Time: 82mins

Rating:

Ogami Itto, appointed executioner of the Shogunate is framed by the Yagyu Shadow clan for disrespecting the Shogun. In the process of this framing, his wife's life is taken, leaving Itto with just his sword, and his son Daigoro to seek revenge on those responsible. Travelling throughout Japan he works his way towards his final target Lord Retsuro taking pay from warring clans as a Ronin for hire all the while avoiding the assassins sent out to bring back his head.

Sword of Vengeance is the first in a six part series of 'chambara' (swordplay / action) films.

What a difference a plot makes !

Back in the 80's I remember as a child seeing a particularly lurid video sleeve - a man, his son, and two samurai swords dripping with blood. Below them were the words Shogun Assassin. I knew right then that I had to see this film. However, the video recordings act soon stepped in labelling it and many other titles unfairly with the term "video nasty" for its graphic content. And so before I had a chance to revel in its delights it disappeared... but not for long.

A good friend of mine had procured an ex-rental copy from a market (this isn't the sole reason why I consider him a good friend - but I'm pretty sure its helped along the way). We sat down and watched it. It has stayed with us since. The incredible moments of violence, the bloodletting - oh my God the bloodletting was relentless. Geysers of blood sprayed with every touch of a sword. As children we took it all in and loved every damn gory minute of it.

But then, three years ago, a lot older and wiser - we revisited it to find that while it was still visually stunning and exhilarating, something was missing. It took a while to realise what it was, but once we did it was clear as day. It seemed that for all its style and comic book violence Shogun Assassin didn't really have any story to it. His wife was killed - yes - but inexplicably. And so we were left with an 80 minute film held together by one inexplicable act. Now I've seen my fair share of pretty thinly plotted films in my time but this really pushed the boundaries. And so it came to be that Sword of Vengeance - the first of the 'Babycart' series - Lone Wolf and Cub was finally released. It was familiar to say the least. But this time the atrocious dubbing along with the atrocious synthesised score was gone - in it's place Tomisaburo Wakayama's voice, a haunting silence of atmosphere that reminded me of Masaki Kobayashi's hypnotic Kwaidan, and miraculously - A PLOT!!! And a cohesive one too !!!! When Robert Houston came round to putting together a US release for the Babycart series it seems he chose to mix and match action sequences from parts 1 and 2 respectively and only the bare bones of a plot.

Finally presented uncut in all its widescreen glory Sword of Vengeance is a great piece of entertainment. Firmly established within the "chambara" genre, this first foray into the adventures of the Lone Wolf and Cub rattles along at great speed, but while also taking the time to establish the much missed narrative drive. Even though the violence is graphic and relates to it's comic book origins, it is filmed with a distinct amount of class making full use of its locations to contrast the vile, savage deaths with the beauty of nature around. Of particular note is the duel between Ogami Itto and Lord Retsuro's son. Set against the backdrop of a river, filmed at a distance - the widescreen image is reminiscent of the grand spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leoni. Kenji Misumi is all too aware of its simplistic plot and its true rasion d'etre, however, the approach taken is always one of high regard for its source material making each set piece looking distinctly unique and beautiful. A pulp B-movie plot with the cinematography of a Kurosawa piece.

The performance of Wakayama in all honesty is undemanding, allowing him to speak slowly, deeply, and sleepwalk throughout the film - this is not a criticism, this is just all he really gets to do other than slice and dice (which I might add he does admirably). In the best traditions of action oriented films the characters take second place to the choreography, and Misumi is certainly in control of his marionettes.

However, for all it's crimson stained fun, and beauty there are faults with the film, and most of these lie within the presentation of Lord Retsuro who has an unwanted mystical presence that has never set right with me, and also that of the unnecessary psychedelic editing that intersperses momentarily ruining some fine set pieces. The death of Rentaro's son is a key example of this, with the build up being suitably slow paced, the atmospherics are ruined by a visual overdrive moments before his bloody demise. Flash cuts, subliminals, and repetition - it all serves not to enhance the scene as planned, but in fact diminishes the power of the duel.

These are minor complaints though, that only momentarily get in the way of the entertainment. Sword of Vengeance is a blood-soaked adventure, one of the finest entries into the "chambara" genre it was followed closely by another five instalments based upon Kazuo Koike's Lone Wolf and Club series of comics.