Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Reading an article in the UK film mag The Dark Side about the Video Nasty titles,I spotted a mention about an infamous Japanese samurai movie called Shogun Assassin.Searching round online,I was surprised to find out that Shogun was a composite of two films in a series.Whilst looking round for info on the series,I discovered that a Region 1 version of the first film in the series was being sold on Ebay,which led to me getting ready to meet the lone wolf and the cub for the first time.The plot:Vowing to get revenge on those who murdered his wife after he killed a Daimyo,Itto takes his young son Daigoro along with him,as they travel from one clan controlled village to the other.Getting into contact with a clan leader,Itto is hired to assassinate a rival clan leader's gang.Taking on the job, (even after facing two hidden would-be assassins!)Daigoro and Itto travel to the destination,where they discover that the clan leader is allowing all of his gang to murder the villagers,which leads to Itto setting his sights on getting revenge for himself and the villagers. View on the film:Based on Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima's Manga series,director Kenji Misumi & cinematographer Chikashi Makiura keep a strong root to the movies comic book origins,with Misumi covering Itto in deep shadows which give the title a striking depth of field.Closely working with editor Toshio Taniguchi,Misumi displays a razor sharp ear for silence which gives the red mist sprays and exposure of female flesh an unexpected poetic atmosphere,as Misumi's long, stilted wide shots cast the action against a warm, earthy backdrop,which is cut with the slashing of Itto's sword.Adapting their Manga series,the screenplay by Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima disappointingly fails to give each of the clans and ronin gangs clear distinctive features,with the mad Yagyū Retsudo being the only samurai to stand out from the blended in crowd. Bringing their creation to life,the writers give Itto and Daigoro on the road adventures a wry sense of humour,as the duo run into everything from a Norse-God looking ronin,to a desperate to breastfeed mad women.Spending most of the film acting with a child who does not speak any dialogue, Tomisaburô Wakayama gives an excellent performance as Itto,thanks to Wakayama keeping the death of Itto's wife pressing down on his sombre shoulders during stylised ronin battles,as the lone wolf sets out to protect his cub.

Absolutely breathtaking. I thought it was a bit too violent, a bit too sexual, and a little weird. But all of these things only added to the experience. This is a movie truly for comic book fans. But then again, I like serious movies that are extremely violent and well, it looks like I am watching the right type of stuff. .Now the story is so captivating, it is the first time in a while that I was watching an Asian film and was really excited, but patiently waited and watched with great interest as the story unfolded. The final battle of the movie was great and really has you saying, "man, I hope this story continues". And ALL of the characters are wonderful as they are bursting with character in their appearance. The acting is also superb. Overall I would have to give this film a 10 out of 10

This film begins with the Shogun's executioner performing a disturbing killing of a small child—all to satisfy the bushido code of honor and obedience. However, when the executioner's family is murdered in a plot and he himself is ordered to commit suicide, he decides that bushido ain't all it's cracked up to be and becomes a revenge-oriented ronin (masterless samurai)—taking his very, very young son in tow.This is the very first Lone Wolf and Cub film. It led to more films and even a TV series—so it's obvious that the series was very popular in Japan. I noticed that the film was produced by Shintaro Katsu—the same guy who starred in a very long string of wonderful Zatoichi films. And, In many ways, this film played much like a Zatoichi film…that is, if Zatoichi was completely amoral!! In fact, I am sure that many fans of the Zatoichi films would be put off my this amoral character as well as the many family unfriendly elements in the film—such as a rather graphic rape/murder! To me, this was just too much. While I probably will try watching another Lone Wolf and Cub film, if it keeps this same nasty tone I'll probably stop after that. As I see it, Zatoichi was very decent—but the ex-executioner in this Lone Wolf film was hard to like or respect—he was much more tough to like.

Like many fans, my first exposure to the world of badass warrior Ogami Itto (and son) was through Shogun Assassin, an infamous 'video nasty' that was compiled from the 'best bits' of the first two movies in the Baby Cart series, 'Sword Of Vengeance' & 'Baby Cart At The River Styx. A stylish blood-drenched epic, Shogun Assassin piqued my interest enough to make me seek out the entire Baby Cart series (comprising of six films, made between 1972 and 1974).Sword of Vengeance introduces us to protagonist Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama), whose job, as Second for the Shogunate, is to execute the enemies of the Shogun, should they fail to commit seppuku (ritual suicide). After his wife is murdered, Itto is framed for treason by the nasty Yagyu clan (who wish to take his coveted position as Second). Now a Ronin—a samurai without a master— he takes to the road working as an assassin for hire, accompanied by his young son Daigoro, who rides in a booby-trapped wooden cart. Together, they are known as Lone Wolf and Cub.With superbly choreographed fight scenes, wonderful cinematography, a terrific soundtrack, and a great central performance from Wakayama, this is an unmissable piece of samurai cinema. Itto is the Japanese equivalent of Clint Eastwood's 'man with no name': a cool-headed, tough-as-nails, and honourable character who is sparing with his words, and who only acts with violence when necessary (but always with devastating results).A lethal force with his sword (and also with the variety of weapons secreted about Daigoro's cart), Itto cuts a swathe through all who are stupid enough to challenge him. A quick flash of his blade, and his enemies are either minus a limb or two, or spouting a geyser of blood from a fatal wound.Sword of Vengeance is a prime example of cool, gritty and stylish 70s cult cinema. Watch it, and be cool by association.