Shingo's Final Duel Film Review

Aka - Fifth Street Duel

Aka - Shingo Bangai Shobu

This is a fine samurai film stuffed with drama, emotion, tragedy and death. It was directed by veteran Matsuda Sadatsugu who had been directing since the silent films of the late 1920s. In particular, he specialized in Samurai films with a number of Tange Sazen, Bored Hatamoto and Crimson Bat films to his credit. He had also directed Hashizô Ôkawa in a series of Shingo Aoi films beginning in the late 1950s. The Shingo character seems to have been picked up for later films after Okawa as well. I don't know if the Shingo films should be watched in order, but this seems to be the last of the Matsuda/Okawa ones.

His story begins with his birth to a concubine of the Shogun Yoshimune (1684 - 1751). He and his mother left the court and set up a life on their own but before that he had become a master swordsman - perhaps the best in the land. Now though he lives quietly with his mother and a servant. This idyllic life is broken when the ferocious Hikojuro (Ryôhei Uchida) challenges him to a duel for the following day. Hikojuro is the lowly son of a foot soldier who wants to prove himself by killing a son of the Shogun. The mother begs him not to go but when challenged, you have no choice. In the duel, it appears that Shingo would have lost except for the interruption of a tree branch that falls. The duel is halted and postponed till the following month in a faraway destination.

The trip to get there takes up much of the film as Shingo first comes into contact with a man and his daughter who run a small business. He stays there and becomes friends with them and the puppeteers who are there as well. It took me a minute to recognize the daughter. Junko Fuji! Still with some baby fat, she had begun appearing in films only the previous year and was soon one of Toei's most popular female actors. Her father being a producer at Toei didn't hurt. I don't think she had taken on any action roles as of yet and she certainly doesn't here - more like a frisky colt waiting for a man to love.

It turns out her grandfather had been part of a gang before leaving them with much of their stolen gold. They have caught up with him but fortunately Shingo is there. Continuing his travels he comes across Tokuro (Hiroki Matsukata) and his sister Sanuki who are preparing for an archery contest in which the loser is expected to commit suicide. He tries to give the man confidence. And so much more happens before he finally meets Hikojuro and little of it good. By the end it has taken on an emotional ballast that I wasn't expecting. I wonder if any of the earlier Shingo films are around.