Review of Sword of the Beast (1965) by Rick R — 16 Dec 2008

"Kedamono no ken" (1965).

The American title for this is "Sword of the Beast" or sometimes called "Samurai Gold Seakers".

A young Samurai, Gennosuke (Mikijiro Hira) is on the run from his clan. He killed his clan's Chancellor and now his daughter and all of the Samurai from his clan are doing everything in their power to catch him and kill him.

Gennosuke is taken in by a prospector who wants to go up into the mountains owned by the Shogun prospecting for gold. Poaching on the Shoguns land is a killing offense and the prospector knows that they can help each other. If they find a lot of gold, Gennosuke could live in hiding pretty nicely, and with Gennosuke's sword skills the prospector will be protected better from thieves and the Shogun's army.

Gennosuke feels that he is a beast that is being hunted. This story takes place during the Meiji Restoration Period. This was an age of possible change and reform and Gennosuke was wanting to spearhead this change with his clan. We later find that he was manipulated by the Vice-Chancellor for power.

Gennosuke and his prospector friend meet up with a low-ranking Samurai and his wife who are also prospecting for gold on a mountain stream. This Samurai is digging for gold for his clan with the idea of higher rank and becoming a paid Samurai. He must protect the gold from bandits, no matter what.

This is a nice Samurai movie. Although it may not have the "Lone Wolf" type of action, the fight sequences are good and the story is fast moving. This movie is well worth checking out.