Throne of Blood (???? Kumonosu-j?, "Spider Web Castle") is a 1957 Japanese samurai film co-written and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film transposes the plot of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth from Medieval Scotland to feudal Japan, with stylistic elements drawn from Noh drama. The film stars Toshiro Mifune and Isuzu Yamada in the lead roles, modelled on the characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Throne of Blood ???? | |
---|---|
Original Japanese poster | |
Directed by | Akira Kurosawa |
Produced by |
|
Screenplay by |
|
Based on | Macbeth by William Shakespeare (uncredited) |
Starring |
|
Music by | Masaru Sato |
Cinematography | Asakazu Nakai |
Edited by | Akira Kurosawa |
Production company | Toho Studios |
Distributed by | Toho |
Release date |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
As with the play, the film tells the story of a warrior who assassinates his sovereign at the urging of his ambitious wife. Kurosawa was a fan of the play and intended to make his own adaptation for several years, delaying it after learning of Orson Welles' Macbeth (1948). Among his changes was the ending, which required archers to fire arrows around Mifune. The film was shot around Mount Fuji and Izu Peninsula.
Despite the change in setting and language and numerous creative liberties, Throne of Blood often is considered one of the better film adaptations of the play. It won two Mainichi Film Awards, including Best Actor for Mifune. A stage adaptation by Ping Chong followed in 2010.
Screenplay
Generals Miki and Washizu are Samurai commanders and friends under a local lord, Lord Tsuzuki, who reigns in the castle of the Spider's Web Forest. After defeating the lord's enemies in battle, they return to Tsuzuki's castle. On their way through the thick forest surrounding the castle, they meet a spirit, who foretells their future. The spirit tells them that today Washizu will be named Lord of the Northern Garrison and Miki will become commander of the first fortress. She then foretells that Washizu will eventually become Lord of Spider's Web Castle, and finally she tells Miki that his son will also become lord of the castle. When the two return to Tsuzuki's estate, he rewards them with exactly what the spirit had predicted. As Washizu discusses this with Asaji, his wife, she manipulates him into making the second part of the prophecy come true by murdering Tsuzuki when he visits.
Washizu kills Tsuzuki with the help of his wife, who gives drugged sake to the lord's guards, causing them to fall asleep. When Washizu returns in shock at his deed, Asaji grabs the bloody spear and puts it in the hands of one of the three unconscious guards. She then yells "murder" through the courtyard, and Washizu slays the guard before he has a chance to plead his innocence. Tsuzuki's vengeful son Kunimaru and an advisor to Tsuzuki, Noriyasu, both suspect Washizu as the traitor and try to warn Miki, who refuses to believe what they are saying about his friend. Under Asaji's influence, Washizu is unsure of Miki's loyalty, but chooses Miki's son as his heir since he and Asaji have no child of their own. Washizu plans to tell Miki and his son about his decision at a grand banquet. However, Asaji tells him that she is pregnant, which leaves him with a quandary concerning his heir; now Miki and his son have to be eliminated.
During the banquet Washizu is clearly agitated by the non-appearance of Miki and his son, and drinks sake copiously. He loses his self-control when Miki's pale ghost suddenly appears. In a delusional panic, he reveals what has happened to Miki by exclaiming that he is willing to slay Miki for a second time, going so far as unsheathing his sword and striking over Miki's mat. Asaji, attempting to pick up the pieces of Washizu's blunder, tells the guests that he is only drunk and that they must retire for the evening. One of his men arrives and presents the severed head of Miki, and also tells them that Miki's son escaped. Washizu is horrified by his own betrayal of his best friend, and kills the assassin.
Later, Washizu is distraught upon hearing that his child and heir is stillborn and so Miki's murder was unnecessary. In dire need of help with the impending battle with his foes, he returns to the forest to summon the spirit. She tells him that he will not be defeated in battle unless the very trees of Spider's Web Forest rise against the castle. Washizu believes this is impossible and is confident of his victory. Washizu knows he must kill all his enemies, so he tells his troops of the last prophecy, and they share his confidence. The next morning, Washizu is awakened by the screams of attendants. Striding into his wife's quarters, he finds Asaji in a semi-catatonic state, trying to wash clean the imaginary foul stench of blood from her hands, obviously distraught at her grave misdeeds. Distracted by the sound of his troops moving outside the room, he investigates and is told by a panicked soldier that the trees of Spider's Web Forest "have risen to attack us". The prophecy has come true and Washizu is doomed.
As Washizu tries to get his troops to attack, they remain still. Disillusioned with his increasingly unstable leadership, the troops finally accuse Washizu of the murder of Tsuzuki. For his treachery, and also to appease Miki's son and Noriyasu, they turn on their master and begin firing arrows at him. Washizu finally succumbs when one of the arrows leaves a mortal wound just as his enemies approach the castle gates. It is revealed that the attacking force is using trees cut down during the previous night to disguise and protect themselves in their advance on the castle.
Actor | Character | Macbeth analogue |
---|---|---|
Toshiro Mifune | Washizu Taketoki (?? ??) | Macbeth |
Isuzu Yamada | Washizu Asaji (?? ??) | Lady Macbeth |
Takashi Shimura | Odakura Noriyasu (??? ??) | Macduff |
Akira Kubo | Miki Yoshiteru (?? ??) | Fleance |
Hiroshi Tachikawa | Tsuzaki Kunimaru (?? ??) | King Duncan |
Minoru Chiaki | Miki Yoshiaki (?? ??) | Banquo |
Takamaru Sasaki | Lord Tsuzuki Kuniharu (?? ??) | Malcolm |
Kokuten K?d? | First General | |
Ueda Kichijiro | Washizu's workman | |
Eiko Miyoshi | Senior lady-in-waiting | |
Chieko Naniwa | The Spirit of Spider's Web (??????) | Three Witches |
Development
William Shakespeare's plays had been read in Japan since the Meiji Restoration in 1868, though banned during World War II for not being Japanese. Director Akira Kurosawa stated he had had an admiration for Shakespeare's Macbeth for a long time, and envisioned making a film based on it. He hoped to make one after his 1950 film Rashomon, but opted to wait when he learned Orson Welles was releasing a Macbeth film.
Kurosawa believed that Scotland and Japan in the Middle Ages shared social problems and that these had lessons for the present day. Moreover, Macbeth could serve as a cautionary tale complementing his 1952 film Ikiru.
The film combines Shakespeare's play with the Noh style of drama. Kurosawa was an admirer of Noh, which he preferred over Kabuki. In particular, he wished to incorporate Noh-style body movements and set design. Noh also makes use of masks, and the evil spirit is seen, in different parts of the film, wearing faces reminiscent of these masks, starting with yaseonna (old lady). Noh often stresses the Buddhist doctrine of impermanence. This is connected to Washizu being denied salvation, with the chorus singing that his ghost is still in the world. The film score's use of flute and drum are drawn from Noh.
Originally, Kurosawa planned only to produce the film, and hand over the reins to another director. However, Toho, assessing the budget and seeing the film would be costly, insisted Kurosawa direct it himself.
Filming
The castle exteriors were built and shot high up on Mount Fuji. The castle courtyard was constructed at Toho's Tamagawa studio, with volcanic soil brought from Fuji so that the ground would match. The interiors were shot in a smaller Tokyo studio. The forest scenes were a combination of actual Fuji forest and studio shots in Tokyo. Washizu's mansion was shot in the Izu Peninsula.
In Kurosawa's own words,
It was a very hard film to make. We decided that the main castle set had to be built on the slope of Mount Fuji, not because I wanted to show this mountain but because it has precisely the stunted landscape that I wanted. And it is usually foggy. I had decided that I wanted lots of fog for this film... Making the set was very difficult because we didn't have enough people and the location was so far from Tokyo. Fortunately, there was a U.S. Marine Corps base nearby, and they helped a great deal; also a whole MP battalion helped us out. We all worked very hard indeed, clearing the ground, building the set. Our labor on this steep fog-bound slope, I remember, absolutely exhausted us; we almost got sick.
Production designer Yoshir? Muraki said the crew opted to employ the color black in the set walls, and a lot of armor, to complement the mist and fog effects. This design was also based on ancient scrolls depicting Japanese castles.
Washizu's death scene, in which his own archers turn upon him and shoot him with arrows, was in fact performed with real arrows, shot by knowledgeable and skilled archers. During filming, Mifune waved his arms, which was how the actor indicated his intended bodily direction. This was for his own safety, to prevent the archers accidentally hitting him.
In Japan, the film was released by Toho on 15 January 1957. It played at 110 minutes and brought in mor
Watch movie Throne Of Blood online on Amazon
Watch movie Throne Of Blood online
Watch The Movie On PrimeHoneymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. Full HD Movie Download
Appu Full HD Movie Download
Dev D Full HD Movie Download
13B Full HD Movie Download
Saat Bijliyan Full HD Movie Download
Daku Rani Himmatwali Full HD Movie Download
Panaah Full HD Movie Download
Party (2006) Full HD Movie Download
Iqbal Full HD Movie Download
Ganga Aur Suraj Full HD Movie Download
Apathbhandavudu Full HD Movie Download
Atma Katha Full HD Movie Download
Veerta The Power Full HD Movie Download
Blow Full HD Movie Download
Alapirandhavan Full HD Movie Download
Bangaru Bhoomi Full HD Movie Download
Success Full HD Movie Download
Cinema Pichollu Full HD Movie Download
Devi Nagamma Full HD Movie Download
Kalaignan Full HD Movie Download
Faasle Full HD Movie Download
Download latest Movie from bollywood
- 1> baaghi 3
- 2> THE SKY IS PINK MOVIE FULL STORY AND REVIEW
- 3> Luka Chuppi
- 4> TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE
- 5> Kabir Singh
- 6> Street Dancer 3D
- 7> Simmba
- 8> Gone Girl
- 9> The Girl Who Lived
- 10> Ludo
- 11> DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE
- 12> GUILTY
- 13> The Godfather
- 14> Adventures of Rusty
- 15> Sooryavanshi
- 16> Satyameva Jayate 2
- 17> Thappad
- 18> Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
- 19> KGFChapter 2
- 20> Mardaani 2
- 21> Pinjar
- 22> Shivaji maharaj
- 23> Ek Villian 2
- 24> Hungama 2
- 25> Divergent
- 26> Mumbai Saga
- 27> The Internship
- 28> HIT (telugu)
- 29> Panga
- 30> The perfect date
- 31> 16 December
- 32> Gopala Gopala (Telugu)
- 33> Brahmastra
- 34> Gangubai Kathiawadi
- 35> Manmadhudu
- 36> Nenu local
- 37> Mahanati
- 38> Shatamanam bavathi
- 39> Lagaan
- 40> After
- 41> MOM
- 42> Shamshera
- 43> Raguvaran BTech
- 44> Khakee
- 45> The villain
- 46> OM
- 47> Mr. perfect
- 48> Bueatifull mind
- 49> Hichki
- 50> Gabbar Singh
- 51> Jogi
- 52> Before Sunrise
- 53> Before Sunset
- 54> Before Midnight
- 55> The Big Bull
- 56> Top Gun: Maverick
- 57> The Purge
- 58> The Sky is Pink
- 59> Laxmmi Bomb
- 60> Sadak 2
- 61> Sufna
- 62> Prithviraj
- 63> PK
- 64> Coolie No 1(2020)
- 65> Black Widow
- 66> Dear Zindagi
- 67> Dil Bechara
- 68> PHIR HERA PHERI
- 69> WAR
- 70> Dostana
- 71> RRR: Roudram Ranam Rudhiram
- 72> Maidan
- 73> Dabbang 3
- 74> Chhalaang
- 75> life as we know it
- 76> SherShaah
- 77> Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar
- 78> Event Horizon
- 79> 83
- 80> Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai
- 81> Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl
- 82> Mr India
- 83> Vivah
- 84> Anokha Bandhan
- 85> Ghost
- 86> Bhoot: Part One - The Haunted Ship
- 87> Haseen Dilruba
- 88> Laal Singh Chaddha
- 89> Qismat
- 90> Rajput
- 91> Drive
- 92> Dil Chahta Hai
- 93> Dil Ki Baazi
- 94> Dil Ka Rishta
- 95> Teesri Manzil
- 96> Dil
- 97> Love Aaj Kal
- 98> Khaali Peeli
- 99> Bunty Aur Babli 2
- 100> Atrangi Re
- 101> Gulabo Sitabo
- 102> Jodi
- 103> Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari
- 104> Deewana
- 105> Attack
- 106> Sardar Udham Singh
- 107> Toofan
- 108> THE LOVEBIRDS
- 109> Jersey
- 110> Ginny Weds Sunny
- 111> Thalaivi
- 112> Shiddat
- 113> Angels vs Zombies
- 114> Koi Mil Gya
- 115> Thank God
- 116> Bhuj: The Pride of India
- 117> Hum Aapke Hain Kaun
- 118> The Platform
- 119> Bird Box
- 120> Roohi Afzana
- 121> Torbaaz
- 122> Nikamma
- 123> World War Z
- 124> Extraction
- 125> Train to Busan
- 126> Life of Pi
- 127> SHAADI MEIN JROOR AANA
- 128> Himmat Aur Mehnat
- 129> To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You
- 130> Mimi
- 131> Good Newwz
- 132> Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
- 133> Raabta
- 134> Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- 135> Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- 136> Chhapaak
- 137> War of the Worlds
- 138> Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- 139> Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- 140> MURDER MYSTERY
- 141> Shakuntala Devi
- 142> Bachchan Pandey
- 143> Jayeshbhai Jordar
- 144> Sheer Qorma
- 145> Saina
- 146> 'O' Pushpa I hate tears
- 147> Kedarnath
- 148> MS Dhoni The Untold Story
- 149> Chhichhore
- 150> Badhaai Ho
- 151> Unstoppable
- 152> Oz the Great And Powerful
- 153> The Girl on the Train
- 154> Haathi Mere Saathi 2020
- 155> The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
- 156> Gandhi Se Pehle Gandhi
- 157> The Song of Scorpions
- 158> Srimanthudu
- 159> Hello Guru Prema Kosame
- 160> Beauty and The Beast
- 161> Black Panther
- 162> Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- 163> Bole Chudiyan
- 164> Fidaa
- 165> Duvvada Jagannadham
- 166> Bruce Lee: The Fighter
- 167> Hyper
- 168> Yaara
- 169> Red (2020)
- 170> Shivam
- 171> That Is Mahalakshmi
- 172> Nishabdham
- 173> Aashram 2020 web series
- 174> Laxmii
- 175> Mismatched
- 176> STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2
- 177> NAIL POLISH
- 178> Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi
- 179> KAAGAZ
- 180> 12 o Clock
- 181> The Power
- 182> bolo hau
- 183> Tribhanga
- 184> JAMUN
- 185> Madam Chief Minister
- 186> Maasaab
- 187> Aadhaar
- 188> Tanhaji
- 189> Bhaagi 3
- 190> Bhootnath
- 191> MALANG
- 192> Jai Mummy Di
- 193> Haathi Mere Saathi 2021
- 194> Shakeela
- 195> Unpaused
- 196> Annayya
- 197> Vamsoddharakudu
- 198> Mrugaraju
- 199> Narasimha Naidu
- 200> Sankranti
- 201> Manasu Maata Vinadhu
- 202> Anjaane
- 203> Apaharan
- 204> Bachke Rehna Re Baba
- 205> Bewafaa
- 206> Roohi
- 207> Radhe
- 208> Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai
- 209> Yeh Mohabbat Hai
- 210> Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?
- 211> The Tomorrow War
- 212> DehradunDiary
- 213> Meri Shaadi Karaoo
- 214> Matruu Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola
- 215> No One Killed Jesica
- 216> Aag Ka Goola
- 217> Eight Million Dollars
- 218> Three Hundred
- 219> Cats and Dog
- 220> Decoy
- 221> Gold Rush
- 222> You Have Got Mail
- 223> Final Destination three
- 224> Tofan
- 225> Jungle