Lullaby to Kill

1977 2h 24m JA

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 15

MysteryHorror

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Kôsuke Kindaichi, a somewhat peculiar private detective, visits a remote town. He meets a police detective and they start to investigate an old unsolved murder. Then some murders happen. Kindaichi must find out about the past in order to reveal who the murderer is.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Koji Ishizaka
Kosuke Kindaichi
Tomisaburō Wakayama
Insp. Isokawa
Keiko Kishi
Rika Aochi (proprietress of the Kamenoyu)
Akiko Nishina
Chie Bessho (Harue's daughter)
Koji Kita
Kanao Aochi (Rika's son)
Yoko Takahashi
Yasuko Yura (Atsuko's daughter, Toshiro's younger sister)
Mitsuko Kusabue
Atsuko Yura - Yasuko's Mother
Hisano Yamaoka
Ito Izutsu

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kon Ichikawa
Writers: Kon Ichikawa
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 / 8

ERA

Did you know

49 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Kosuke Kindaichi Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kon Ichikawa, shot by Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Kunihiko Murai. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chizuko Osada shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Koji Ishizaka and Tomisaburō Wakayama and Keiko Kishi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0075650 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 15 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kon Ichikawa directs. Kiyoshi Hasegawa behind the camera. Kunihiko Murai scores. Chizuko Osada cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

149 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "Kosuke Kindaichi Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Kon Ichikawa, shot by Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Kunihiko Murai. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Chizuko Osada shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Koji Ishizaka and Tomisaburō Wakayama and Keiko Kishi carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0075650 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 15 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Kiyoshi Hasegawa
Original score: Kunihiko Murai
Editing: Chizuko Osada
Runtime: 144 min · 2h 24m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Lullaby to Kill (1977)

Part of

Kosuke Kindaichi Collection

A series of films about private detective Kosuke Kindaichi solving murder cases. Starring Koji Ishizaka in the titular role, directed by Kon Ichikawa.