The Sword of Doom

Director Kihachi Okamoto’s exceptionally dark swordplay classic turns 50 this year. Starring Tatsuya Nakadai as a nihilistic samurai with large, hollow eyes who gradually becomes the embodiment of evil by mercilessly killing everyone in his path, The Sword of Doom abandons the mythos of samurai chivalry in order to explore the extremities of violence and chaos. Featuring some of Japanese cinema’s most memorable sword fight scenes in extraordinary widescreen black and white photography (including an exceptional nighttime snow battle with Toshiro Mifune), Okamoto’s harsh yet aesthetically beautiful film still has the power to evoke shock and awe.

1966, 121 min., 35mm, b/w, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Kihachi Okamoto. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Toshiro Mifune, Michiyo Aratama, Yuzo Kayama, Yoko Naito.

Tickets
$12/$9 seniors & students/$5 Japan Society members

Part of Monthly Classics
Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema on the first Friday of every month.

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