Before Zatoichi - Shiranui Kengyo

Shiranui Kengyo is an interesting movie, a character study of a young blind man who rises from poverty to become Secretary of Religious Affairs (hence the movie title). It was released in 1960, a couple of years before the first Zatoichi film, but this is notable because it starts the same actor, Katsu Shintaro, and that his acting here led to the Zatoichi role. He seems much younger here, and thinner, but he comes across as being very self assured. He plays Suginoichi, a blind man who since childhood has taken advantage of others because of his disability. He steals and connives to get what he wants -- in one sequence, he slips his nose pickings into a tub of fine sake in order to get free booze for his family. Years later, now a young man in his twenties, he aspires to be the Secretary, which is the highest position a blind man can be in Japan. He encounters a traveller on the road and seeing that he is carrying a large sum of money, kills him. He is spotted by another traveller, and Ichi gives him half. Ichi persuades him to give him a token so that he could prove to an inn that he is going to that he knows this man, but instead plants it on the body as evidence. Afterwards Ichi becomes more evil in pursuit of his goals. He steals more money. He rapes a young maid, then later a wife of a samurai. He fakes his own death to avoid accusation. Now studying under the Secretary, he plots his master's murder, using petty criminals to do his deed. He becomes Secretary, and marries a beautiful woman who was an artist's model and his lover. Knowing that he could never win her heart, he poisons the artist and kills his wife. Before long, his past sins catch up to him, and the mistaken murderer of the traveller comes forth to expose him. As Ichi is about to go to see the Emperor's daughter, the police arrest him.

Katsu Shintaro carries this film, which is good up until the contrived ending, which I think wrapped up matters too neatly and too quickly. It's interesting to compare this role with the Zatoichi character. They are similar except in demeanor. The evil Ichi is sly, misogynist, more gestural. Zatoichi is humble and restrained, except when forced into action. The direction is very good; nice composition of scenes, and the action sequences have a documentary feel to it. A good black and white widescreen transfer. Too bad about the ending. Worth seeing for the Zatoichi influence.