Sonny Chiba — Actor (133)
Tale of A Company Boss Pt.5 (1963) [Movie] IMDb TMDB
次郎長社長と石松社員 安来ぶし道中
other title: 次郎長社長と石松社員 安来ぶし道中
Shimizu Jirocho, the president, manages two businesses: Izumo Kanko-sha and the group inn "Daikokuya." There is a system where customers from Izumo Kanko-sha are directly sent to Daikokuya. President Jirocho learns that the geishas he is fond of, including Mari Chiyotachi, are going to Izumo to participate in the Ankai-bushi Concours...
Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge (1963) [Movie] WikiData IMDb TMDB
八州遊侠伝 男の盃
director: Masahiro Makino actor: Chiezo Kataoka / Sonny Chiba
other title: 八州遊侠伝 男の盃 / Gambler Tales Of Hasshu: A Man'S Pledge
This is one of the many films based on the legend of Chuji Kunisada, a wandering gambler and a defender of the weak in the Edo period. In other words, he was the Japanese Robin Hood. In this film Kunisada (Chiezo Kataoka) arrives to a small town terrorized by an evil gang. He insists that he is not Kunisada, as the word is Kunisada has been executed, but of course the audience know better. Sonny Chiba plays an unusual supporting role as a helpless young man unable to defend himself from the gangsters. He does, however, get to play taiko drums and dance with Junko Fuji (who makes her film debut here). Chiba's father, an old judge who helps Kunisada, is played by Takashi Shimura. The film hardly anything exceptional, but it's a pretty decent jidai geki / yakuza drama.
Song of Yakuza (1963) [Movie] WikiData IMDb TMDB
やくざの歌
other title: やくざの歌 / Song Of Yakuza
A low ranking yakuza who spends more time enjoying life than doing the yakuza work falls in love with a pretty student girl, whose brother later gets drawn into the yakuza business against his own wishes.
Police Department Part 15: Alibi (1961) [Movie] IMDb TMDB
警視庁物語 不在証明
other title: 警視庁物語 不在証明
The First Investigation Department is investigating a murder case that took place at a government agency, with particular attention to finding an alibi for the suspects. A security guard was killed in the building, the safe was broken into, but nothing was stolen. The three suspects have alibis, but who then killed the guard and broke into the safe? The 15th work from the popular series "Keishicho Monogatari", which documents the activities of the First Investigation Division of the Capital Police Department. Sonny Chiba's first film role as one of the seven detectives.
Judo Life (1963) [Movie] WikiData IMDb TMDB
柔道一代
director: Kiyoshi Saeki actor: Sonny Chiba / Naoki Sugiura
other title: 柔道一代
Sonny Chiba's first martial arts film, a partially fictionalized judo biopic based on prominent judoka Shiro Saigo (Chiba), the second student of judo founder Jigoro Kano (Naoki Sugiura). Akira Kurosawa’s Sanshiro Sugata is based on the same character and shares some scenes, but Judo for Life focuses more on the martial arts philosophy and training, including scenes depicting how the protagonist learned his famous cat-like landing, coined the term judo, and trained with Tsunejiro Tomita (Hideo Murata). There’s also a slight yakuza film influence. The port street ambush scene is found in both films, but in Judo for Life it’s not Kano but a travelling yakuza that jumps out of the rickshaw. Entertaining and beautifully old fashioned, one does however with there were more shades of gray between good and evil, and a stronger ninkyo-like moral / honour conflict.
Two Lives, Two Yakuza (1964) [Movie] WikiData IMDb TMDB
竜虎一代
director: Tsuneo Kobayashi actor: Koji Tsuruta / Sumiko Fuji
other title: 竜虎一代 / Ryūko ichidai
An early ninkyo film from before the genre had truly established its form. Koji Tsuruta plays an honourable outlaw who saves an older man from an ambush. It turns out the man is the head of a hard working clan appointed to a railway construction project. A ruthless yakuza gang is also trying to get their share of the project and attempts to sabotage the work. After the old man dies, his son (Sonny Chiba) and daughter (Junko Fuji) try to complete the project. Tsuruta joins them while also falling in love with a local woman working in a bar (after all, Tsuruta always was more of a lover than his stoic colleague Takakura).
Mid-August Commotion (1962) [Movie] IMDb TMDB
八月十五日の動乱
other title: 八月十五日の動乱
A suspense work based on the "Miyagi Incident," an attempted coup d'etat led by some officers working for the Ministry of the Defense and the General Staff of the Konoe Division on the eve of the end of the Pacific War.
The Navy (1963) [Movie] IMDb TMDB
海軍
director: Shinji Murayama actor: Kinya Kitaoji / Sonny Chiba
other title: 海軍
A tale of two best friends in the WWII era Japan. Takao is a young man enthusiastic about joining the navy to fight for his country. He convinces his best friend Shinji to join him. As it turns out, however, Takao's poor health prevents him from entering the navy while his friend is chosen instead. As time goes by, Takao becomes a painter and changes his mind about the meaningfulness of war and fighting, while his friend goes the opposite path. Meanwhile Takao's sister falls in love with Shinji.
Here Because of You (1964) [Movie] IMDb TMDB
君たちがいて僕がいた
other title: 君たちがいて僕がいた
An uplifting drama about the bond between a group of high school seniors and their kind-hearted teacher, Mr. Yabuki. Faced with the rigors of growing up in modern times, students often look to Mr. Yabuki for advice and guidance. But when Mr. Yabuki’s career is threatened as a result of a false accusation from the school’s PTA, the students band together to stand up for their beloved teacher and help him to save his good reputation and job.