The Loyal 47 Ronin

Kunio Watanabe's 1958 costume drama The Loyal 47 Ronin (aka Chushingura) is an opulent but enervated retelling of a well-known story of loyalty and revenge. The eponymous figures are the former samurai of Lord Asano, who was forced to commit seppuku following his sword-swinging assault on the corrupt and insulting Lord Kira. The 47 men, reduced in rank from samurai to ronin, peacefully agree to leave Lord Asano's estate; however, Asano's chief retainer, Oishi, clearly does not believe in forgiving and forgetting, eventually mounting an elaborate attack on Kira. The film is visually stunning, sporting richly detailed costumes and art direction that beautifully evoke the privileged world of 18th-century Japanese aristocracy, but the characters are little more than half-dimensional figures cloaked in elaborate kimonos. Perhaps Watanabe intentionally sought to go in the opposite direction of Kenji Mizoguchi's 1941 feature The 47 Ronin, which covered the same territory with more emphasis on cerebral passion than showmanship (Mizoguchi's film was considered a flop in its time, but the passage of years has elevated it to classic status). DVD extras include an image gallery, program notes, and cast and crew bios. A strong optional purchase. (P. Hall)