Product Description
Released May 2013. NTSC, Region Code All, English Commentary and booklet notes. 83 mins (main programme) + 23 minutes (special feature on 50 selected works of Kabuki). Colour. Filmed January 1978.
Nakamura Kanzaburo XVII (1909-1988) was one of the most versatile actors of his time. Nakamura Utaemon VI (1917-2001) was probably the leading onnagata at the time of this filming. Tachiyaku Kataoka Nizaemon XIII (1903-1994) had one of the longest careers in Kabuki history, and remained a top draw till the end of his life. Nakamura Shikan VII (1928-2011) was a great onnagata actor.
Ichijo Okura Monogatari (Lord Okura, the fool and Tokiwa Gozen) was staged as Kabuki for the first time in 1731. Kiymori, the leader of the Heike clan is persecuting the members of the defeated Genji clan. Tokiwa Gozen is the widow of the head of the Genji clan and the mother of Yoshitsune, the generals who will later restore their clan. Kiymori however, made Tokiwa Gozen his mistress and then gave her to one of his supporters, Lord Okura, who appears to be a simple minded fool who spends his time chasing women. Outraged members of the Genji clan sneak into Lord Okura's mansion to discover that Tokiwa Gozen's immorality and Lord Okura's idiocy are a guise to survive under control of the enemy.
