Magistrate of Dice

1961 1h 30m JA

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

★9.0TMDB · 1

ActionDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Based on the exploits of real-life historical character Magistrate Toyama no Kinsan, this exciting tale brings the “Demon Magistrate” as he is called to the aid of a beautiful young woman who asks to be abducted on the eve of her wedding so that she would not have to marry a country bumpkin. Instead she plans to go to Edo, where life can be cheap and common criminals run rampant. Can Magistrate Toyama, a gambler himself, see through the plot and keep her safe from harm. Don’t miss this spectacular showpiece of samurai era action led by superstar Kataoka Chiezo in one of his signature roles. When he bares his tattooed right shoulder, all hell breaks loose!

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Chiezo Kataoka
Chiyonosuke Azuma
Eitarō Shindō
Kyoko Aoyama
Satomi Oka
Ryuji Kita
Ryōsuke Kagawa
Yataro Kurokawa

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kokichi Uchide
Writers: Tatsuro Jinde, Kenrō Matsuura
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

RUNTIME

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

65 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Tōyama no Kin-san Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kokichi Uchide, shot by Shigeto Miki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Chiezo Kataoka and Chiyonosuke Azuma and Eitarō Shindō carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0200080 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kokichi Uchide directs. Shigeto Miki behind the camera. Nakaba Takahashi scores. Shintarō Miyamoto cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
265 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Part of the "Tōyama no Kin-san Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Kokichi Uchide, shot by Shigeto Miki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Nakaba Takahashi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Shintarō Miyamoto shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Chiezo Kataoka and Chiyonosuke Azuma and Eitarō Shindō carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0200080 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.