Jirokichi the Rat is based on a historical figure, a "Japanese Robin Hood" who, in the early 19th Century Edo Period, robbed the rich in order to help the poor—or at least that's how the legend goes. He was also known to be somewhat of a ladies' man. Director Daisuke Ito, reportedly a pioneer in the "period"/"sword-fighting" genres, offers both of those avatars in this dramatic story that sees Jirokichi fleeing to Osaka on a riverboat with the police on his trail, meeting a vamp during the journey, and then coming across an ingénue in the city. It turns out that both women are under the watchful eye of a barbar, the former's brother, who also happens to be an…

C'est le seul film complet qui existe encore de Daisuke Itô pendant son prime time . Un jidaigeki (les films qui se passent à l'ère Edo) le fun et c'est pas mal tout ce que j'ai à dire, ben l'fun, c'est l'fun, yé, et avec une finale splendide avec des centaines de figurants, qui ont chacun une lanterne de papier qui brillent dans la nuit, à la poursuite de Jirokichi. Une autre de ces finales du type "une ou quelques personnes contre un nombre incalculable d'ennemis" assez courant dans le genre. Mais Itô a fait encore plus extraordinaire dans ce genre de finale : tout récemment y a une restauration HD et sous-titrée de Chokon (1926) qui a fait son…

The fact that almost nobody has seen Jirokichi the Rat is inexcusable. Not only is it unbelievably easy to access – a quick Google search found me a good-quality copy – it’s also the only full surviving film from director Daisuke Ito. That’s right: this incredibly influential Japanese director only has one film left, and it’s floating around, basically unwatched, on Vimeo. And many films that a large number of people dearly love, including the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa, clearly stole more than a little from Ito’s filmography. Even though the genre was just getting started, even though it’s a silent film, Jirokichi the Rat creates so many of the tropes and typical storytelling ideas of the samurai genre…

"Oatsurae Jirokichi Koshi", or "Made to Order Cloth", the only wholly surviving silent film from fabled director Daisuke Itō.

Deceivingly delectable, "Jirokichi the Rat" consists of oblique and angular shots, that are truly impressive. It comes as no surprise, considering Itō is one of the most revered and highly regarded auteurs of all time, that within this relatively short silent film, many techniques are crafted in outstanding fashion. Alluring action photography slides seamlessly between sublime extreme close-ups, both of which are incredulously innovative in their combination of contrasting shadows and expressive eyebrows.

Although a fantastic piece of silent cinema, I couldn't resist playing an overture of my own.
If you're to watch this film, I highly recommending playing 大勘定 ("Daikanjyo")…

Jirokichi is a homeless bandit who robs the homes of rich lords. With the police hot on his heels, he flees to Osaka. On the riverboat to Osaka he meets Osen, a petty criminal, who falls for him immediately. They shack up at an inn and Jirokichi learns that Osen's brother, Nikichi, a nefarious barber shop owner with yakuza ties, has been pimping her out. Jirokichi goes to have a stern word with him, but while there he meets a threadbare, but beautiful, girl named Okino and loses interest in Osen. However, Nikichi also has his eye on Okino and plans to kidnap her as a present for his boss.

Jirokichi the Rat is, sadly, legendary director Daisuke Ito's only…

C'est le seul film complet qui existe encore de Daisuke Itô pendant son prime time . Un jidaigeki (les films qui se passent à l'ère Edo) le fun et c'est pas mal tout ce que j'ai à dire, ben l'fun, c'est l'fun, yé, et avec une finale splendide avec des centaines de figurants, qui ont chacun une lanterne de papier qui brillent dans la nuit, à la poursuite de Jirokichi. Une autre de ces finales du type "une ou quelques personnes contre un nombre incalculable d'ennemis" assez courant dans le genre. Mais Itô a fait encore plus extraordinaire dans ce genre de finale : tout récemment y a une restauration HD et sous-titrée de Chokon (1926) qui a fait son…

The fact that almost nobody has seen Jirokichi the Rat is inexcusable. Not only is it unbelievably easy to access – a quick Google search found me a good-quality copy – it’s also the only full surviving film from director Daisuke Ito. That’s right: this incredibly influential Japanese director only has one film left, and it’s floating around, basically unwatched, on Vimeo. And many films that a large number of people dearly love, including the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa, clearly stole more than a little from Ito’s filmography. Even though the genre was just getting started, even though it’s a silent film, Jirokichi the Rat creates so many of the tropes and typical storytelling ideas of the samurai genre…

Jirokichi the Rat is based on a historical figure, a "Japanese Robin Hood" who, in the early 19th Century Edo Period, robbed the rich in order to help the poor—or at least that's how the legend goes. He was also known to be somewhat of a ladies' man. Director Daisuke Ito, reportedly a pioneer in the "period"/"sword-fighting" genres, offers both of those avatars in this dramatic story that sees Jirokichi fleeing to Osaka on a riverboat with the police on his trail, meeting a vamp during the journey, and then coming across an ingénue in the city. It turns out that both women are under the watchful eye of a barbar, the former's brother, who also happens to be an…