Rousing Saturday Morning Adventure - Golden Peacock Castle

Golden Peacock Castle is a four part movie that runs like a Saturday morning serial: the castle, set in the southern Japanese islands, was a place of tranquility until the warring armies of the mainland, in their zeal for total control over Japan, invaded and destroyed the palace and the citizens were scattered. Twenty years later, the three children of the castle's royal family appear, in various states of life: one is adopted by the samurai who destroyed the castle, one by a wizard, and another by a loyal Peacock bodyguard. The series follows their adventures, and for its time (1960), it was exciting popular entertainment. Lots of sword fights, overenthusiastic orchestrations, cool demons (including a terifficly evil she-demon that could have come out of Kurosawa's Ran), thrilling escapes, and more! Each film builds on the previous, in story and tone, so you don't get any repeated explaining. Part 4 has a great dragon battle scene which must have been great for the viewers of that time -- however, the Godzilla films must have already topped that in terms of special effects. Lots of pixie dust and explosions and colorful light for special effects. How far we have come...... Entertaining and well worth picking up the entire series.