Movie spotlight
Kurama Tengu
Kurama Tengu is a 1928 black and white Japanese silent film with benshi accompaniment directed by Teppei Yamaguchi. It is a film which is a part of the series depicting the bold and daring hero Kurama Tengu. The popular series comprises numerous films based on the original novel written by Jiro Osaragi, but those featuring Kanjuro Arashi are considered to be the most valuable. Of note is the last scene in which the main character takes on numerous foes with a sword in each hand.
Insights
Plot Summary
Details on the plot are scarce for this early silent film. However, the title suggests it is an adaptation of the popular folktale about the "Kurama Tengu," a mythical tengu (mountain spirit) associated with Mount Kurama, who is known for his martial arts prowess and often interacts with humans, sometimes teaching them.
Critical Reception
As a silent film from 1928, specific critical reception data is largely unavailable in modern databases. However, Teinosuke Kinugasa was a prominent director in Japanese cinema during the silent era, known for his artistic contributions to films like 'Page of Madness.' Films of this nature were generally popular entertainment for their time.
What Reviewers Say
Likely a visually driven silent film typical of its era.
The film's popularity was tied to the well-known Kurama Tengu folklore.
As an early Japanese silent film, its historical significance may outweigh specific artistic critiques available today.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this film is not available due to its age and limited international distribution in accessible formats.
Fun Fact
Teinosuke Kinugasa, the director of this film, also directed the highly acclaimed avant-garde silent film 'Page of Madness' (Kurutta Ippeiji) in 1926, which is considered a masterpiece of Japanese expressionism.
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