(Muhougai no Suronin)

1976 - color - 135 min.  REMASTERED Academy Standard (4:3)

Episode 1: The Wagon Attack At Dawn

Episode 2: The Butterfly Dies In The Misty Night

Episode 3: Wheel Of Fortune-Ace Of Killers

Starring: MIFUNE Toshiro

              WAKABAYASHI Go

Directed by: MURAYAMA Mitsuo

The first three episodes in a wildly unusual story set in the earliest days of the Meiji era.  The story centers around a gathering place called The Mermaid Saloon, where scantily clad pearl divers put on a show while two residents of the inn upstairs fight corruption and evil while Japan goes through major changes in order to deal with the world at large.  The port city of Yokohama is filled with Western influences as well as money hungry military officers work hand in hand with corrupt merchants in trying to take over the town.  The only people who stand in their way are Mr. Dandy (Mifune), a samurai of the old school, complete with sword and kimono and Chidori Gennosuke (Wakabayashi) who carries a pistol and dresses in Western garb (looking much like Bat Masterson as portrayed by Gene Barry in the old US television series).  Chidori is suspected of being  a government spy, and Mr. D is a man of mystery as well.  Surrounded by a number of regulars, this is an exciting series with many twists and turns.