Black Challenger

1964 1h 23m JA

DramaCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Young lawyer Jiro receives a late night phone call from a distraught woman sending him on a journey to uncover corruption and exploitation stemming from those at the very top of society.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Jiro Tamiya
Mikiko Tsubouchi
Naoko Kubo
Kyū Sazanka
Reiko Fujiwara
Yuka Konno
Jutarō Hōjō
Ryūzō Shimada

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mitsuo Murayama
Writers: Yoshihiro Ishimatsu, Kenrō Matsuura, Kazuo Shimada
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

83 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

62 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Black Series" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mitsuo Murayama, shot by Kimio Watanabe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Jiro Tamiya and Mikiko Tsubouchi and Naoko Kubo carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt8933654 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mitsuo Murayama directs. Kimio Watanabe behind the camera. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

183 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
262 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Part of the "Black Series" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Mitsuo Murayama, shot by Kimio Watanabe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Jiro Tamiya and Mikiko Tsubouchi and Naoko Kubo carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt8933654 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.