The Three Treasures
| The Three Treasures | |
|---|---|
 Japanese film poster | |
| Directed by | Hiroshi Inagaki |
| Screenplay by | |
| Based on | Kojiki and Nihon Shoki |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Kazuo Yamada[1] |
| Music by | Akira Ifukube |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Toho |
Release date | October 25, 1959 (Japan) |
Running time | 182 minutes[1] |
| Country | Japan |
The Three Treasures (日本誕生, Nippon Tanjō, lit. Birth of Japan) is a 1959 Japanese film directed by Hiroshi Inagaki. The film is based on the legends Kojiki and Nihon Shoki and the origins of Shinto.[1][2] The film was the highest-grossing film of 1959 for Toho and the second highest grossing domestic production in Japan for the year.[3]
The film was shown in Japan in 1959 as Nippon Tanjo (The Birth of Japan) with a running time of 182 minutes, but it was released in the United States in December, 1960 as The Three Treasures, edited down to only 112 minutes. It was also shown internationally under the title Age of the Gods.[1]
Plot[]
The Three Treasures retells the story of the Yamato Takeru legend, and features a recounting of the great battle between Susanoo and the legendary dragon Orochi.
Cast[]
- Toshiro Mifune as Prince Yamato Takeru and Susanoo
- Takashi Shimura as Elder Kumaso
- Kōji Tsuruta as Younger Kumaso
- Nakamura Ganjirō II as Emperor Keikō
- Akira Takarada as Prince Wakatarashi
- Kinuyo Tanaka as Princess Yamato
- Ichiro Arishima as Gods of Yaoyorozu
- Yoko Tsukasa as Princess Oto Tachibana
- Kyōko Kagawa as Princess Miyazu
- Setsuko Hara as Amaterasu
Production[]
Stuart Galbraith IV described the film as a religious epic in the style of director Cecil B. DeMille that featured "virtually every star and bit player on the Toho lot".[1]
Release[]
The Three Treasures was distributed theatrically in Japan by Toho on November 1, 1959.[1] The film was Toho's most profitable film of the year and second highest grossing domestic film of 1959.[1] The film was released in the United States by Toho International Company with English-language subtitles on December 20, 1960.[1] This version of the film was cut to 112 minutes.[1]
References[]
Footnotes[]
Sources[]
- Galbraith IV, Stuart (2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-1461673743. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
External links[]
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- 1959 films
- Japanese films
- Japanese-language films
- Japanese epic films
- Films set in the 2nd century
- Films directed by Hiroshi Inagaki
- History of Japan on film
- Films with screenplays by Ryuzo Kikushima
- Films based on Japanese myths and legends
- Films produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka
- Films produced by Sanezumi Fujimoto
- Toho films
- Shinto in popular culture
- 1950s Japanese film stubs