The Lord and the Gambler (1959)

Plot Summary

Fate begins to smile upon young Chonosuke Tokugawa, son of eleventh Tokugawa Shogun, after some twenty years of life as a dependent at his step-brother's castle, when the ruler of the Takatori Clan suddenly dies leaving no heir and despite the protest from Minister Horio, it is decided that young Chonosuke is to succeed as ruler of the clan. Horio determines to murder Chonosuke on his way to Edo so that his own grandchild may rule the Takatori Clan. "Odd" Han, a travelling gambler happens to stop at the inn where Chonosuke's party is staying in secret. The assassins come to attack Chonosuke on the riverbank where he is viewing the fireworks alone but are driven off by Han. Now Chonosuke travels with Han disguised as a gambler during which he begins to learn the hardships of the peasants and is struck with the contrast between the life of a feudal and those whose labour provides his luxurious living.

Full Cast & Characters

Raizō Ichikawa

Kōjirō Hongō

Chonosuke

Keiko Awaji

Tamao Nakamura

Osaki

Toshie Kusunoki

Otoshi

Daimaru Nakata

Kitahachi

Racket Nakata

Yajirobei

Toshio Chiba

Ichirō Izawa

Kōichi Mizuhara

Matsudaira Izu-no-kami

Hideo Hongo

Tokugawa Ienari

Toranosuke Ogawa

Kubodera Heizaemon

Director & Crew

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