Lone Wolf & Cub 1: Sword of Vengeance

Japan 1972, 80 minutes
Dir. Kenji Misumi
Rating: [R16]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Action/Adventure, Cult / Martial Arts, Splatter

Topics: Period - 1600s.

Feat. Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Fumio Watanabe, Ito Yunosuke

Aroview: The LONE WOLF AND CUB series chronicles the adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro, who sell their services to people in need while travelling the countryside in search of revenge against the hit squad who killed Itto's wife.
Based on a famous manga, this is one of the major samurai movie cycles, featuring excellent cinematography amidst gory choreography in a spaghetti western- influenced setting. Incidentally star Tomisaburo Wakayama is the brother of that other iconic samurai star Shintaro Katsu of the Zatoichi series.

In this first film, samurai Ogami Itto is official executioner for the Royal Court. He is falsely accused of treason by the evil Yagyu clan, is stripped of his position and his wife murdered by Yagyu assassins. With his infant son Daigoro, Ogami sets out on a brutal and bloody path of revenge.