Eichu Kudo's Death Duel (Ninkyo Kisogarasu, Toei, 1965) stars Ryutaro Otomo as that Robin Hood of old Japan, Chuji of Kunisada.

In 1837, Chuji escaped from his province of Kiso, disguised as a deputy inspector chasing after, who else, Chuji of Kunisada.

But the story is less about Chuji than it is about Shinta (Hoshizo Okawa) who is framed for theft & imprisoned for one year, at last released when his girlfriend mortgages her inn to bribe the right people.

Shinta wants to clear his name & find revenge, so a lot of trouble ensues, all predicated upon the bad guys wanting Shinta's girlfriend, a conventional plot. Shinta's girl has sold herself to a bordello.

Another woman who is the "hooker with a heart of gold" is additionally quite good at throwing coins as shuriken-like weapons.Despite that she, too, is obviously in love with Shinta, she helps the two lovers get back together.

She's much more interesting than the sappy girl Shinta loves, but not quite as pretty, so either Shinta goes for looks only, or he's beholden to his girl for sinking her own life to get him out of prison, though the script seems merely to assume they're crazy in love.

Hashizo Okawa is particularly handsome in this film & despite the trivial story, his graceful figure & excellent facial expressions make it a rewarding film. Otomo as Chuji is also pleasantly satisfactory.

Like his contemporary Chiezo Kataoka who also played Chuji both before & after the war, Otomo had been pretty much unemployable during the Occupation. His career bounced back hugely when McArthur & his ban on jidai-geki swordplay films were gone.

In the 1950s such stars were treated as vital leading men who could carry a film alone, but increasingly in the 1960s they would co-star with some younger star like Hashizo Okawa or Kinnosuke Nakamura, who were fast becoming a new generation's film idols.

In the end Chuji reveals himself & there's a suitable-for-children all-out-battle. Shinto, Chuji, & Chuji's partner kill off the bad guys in a free-for-all battle, saving helpless maidens.

In the aftermath of the mass-duel, Chuji gives a nice little lecture about not living a gambler's life, which moves Shinta, who goes off with his girl to live the honest life. With a touch of folksy music & an excess of sweetness & light, this is an entirely acceptable film of its kind.

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