 | CLASSIC JAPANESE SAMURAI MOVIES from the 1950's, 60's and 70's - Known as "Chambara" they are a unique form of film set in the harsh reality of Feudal Japan. These films are inspired by the heroic exploits of majestic Samurai and the lonely and tragic path of the masterless Ronin. There are a number of themes that often occur in Samurai film plots. Many feature roaming masterless samurai, seeking work or a place in society. Others are period historical tales of true characters, or show tales of clan loyalty. The word Chambara is slang for Japanese swordplay or swashbuckler films. Samurai films were constantly made into the early 1970s, but by then, overexposure on television, the aging of the big stars of the genre, and the continued decline of the mainstream Japanese film industry put a halt to the most of the production of this often startlingly original, artistic genre. |
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