One of Toei Pictures best Warlord epics, this film tells the story of Matabei Goto, a good- natured retainer who enjoys his saki, while still being a master of military strategy. Featuring a bravado performance by Utaemon Ichikawa as Matabei and strong support from Tomisaburo Wakayama and the rest of the Toei all-stars, this is an excellent example of the best that historical epics can be. After Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the remnants of the Toyotomi faction at the Battle of Osaka Castle, he seeks to test the loyalty of his retainers. When Matabei speaks his mind at Sunpu Castle, it causes a breathtaking scene as the tension rises. Utaemon, while best known for his swordfighting scenes always preferred to usehis ability as an actor, with a steely gaze to melt down his opponents. A brilliant motion picture, this is a real classic! (TV Broadcast quality.)
