As we continue our journey through the history of the western genre, Alex and Jonathan take a detour to Japan to discuss an era of chanbara (samurai) films that bridge the gap from classic westerns to spaghetti westerns. We’re talking about Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954), Sanjuro (1962), The Sword of Doom (1966). We discuss the parallels between chanbara and western films, the ways samurai have been mythologized in similar ways to old west gunslingers, and the construction and deconstruction of the ideals of that mythology.
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Skip to: Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (10:01), Sanjuro (34:05), The Sword of Doom (58:45), Overall (1:18:04), Coming Attractions (1:26:40)
Resources referenced in this episode:
- LISTEN: Samurai and Sombreros Series
- Follow us on Twitter @TheFilmlings
Coming Attractions – Sergio Leone
- For a Few Dollars More (1965)
- Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
- Duck, You Sucker! (1971)
Intro/outro music:
Ash by Mike Braudrick
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