Sansho the Bailiff
Movie · Drama · Classics

When an idealistic governor disobeys the reigning feudal lord, he is cast into exile, his wife and children left to fend for themselves and eventually wrenched apart by vicious slave traders. Under Kenji Mizoguchi’s dazzling direction, this classic Japanese story became one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces, a monumental, empathetic expression of human resilience in the face of evil.

1954 · 2h 4m
  • 100%
Starring Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyoko Kagawa
Director Kenji Mizoguchi

Trailers

  • Sansho the Bailiff
    Sansho the Bailiff
    Drama

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Cast & Crew

  • Kinuyo Tanaka
    Tamaki
  • Y‌H
    Yoshiaki Hanayagi
    Zushio
  • K‌K
    Kyoko Kagawa
    Anju
  • E‌S
    Eitaro Shindo
    Sansho the Bailiff
  • A‌K
    Akitake Kono
    Taro
  • M‌S
    Masao Shimizu
    Taira Masauji
  • K‌M
    Ken Mitsuda
    Prime Minister Fujiwara
  • C‌N
    Chieko Naniwa
    Ubatake
  • K‌M
    Kenji Mizoguchi
    Director
  • M‌N
    Masaichi Nagata
    Producer
  • O‌M
    Ogai Mori
    Writer

About

Sansho the Bailiff

Drama

When an idealistic governor disobeys the reigning feudal lord, he is cast into exile, his wife and children left to fend for themselves and eventually wrenched apart by vicious slave traders. Under Kenji Mizoguchi’s dazzling direction, this classic Japanese story became one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces, a monumental, empathetic expression of human resilience in the face of evil.

100%

TOMATOMETER
Average 9.4
Reviews 20
Fresh 20

Information

Studio
The Criterion Collection
Released
1954
Run Time
2 hr 4 min
Rated
Unrated
Region of Origin
Japan
© 1954 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. All rights reserved.

Languages

Original Audio
Japanese, Japanese (Japan), English
Audio

Japanese (Japan) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United States) (Always On)

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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
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  • Greece
  • Hungary
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  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
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  • Slovenia
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  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
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  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

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  • Bahamas
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  • Bermuda
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  • Virgin Islands, British
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  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
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  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
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  • Venezuela (Español)

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