Weirdhouse Cinema: Black Lizard (1968)
Digest
This episode of Weird House Cinema delves into the 1968 Japanese crime thriller "Black Lizard." The film, directed by Kenji Fukusaku, is a stylish and campy exploration of love, obsession, and the pursuit of a diamond heart. The episode provides a detailed overview of the film's plot, which revolves around the charismatic drag performer Akihiro Miwa as Black Lizard, a super criminal who kidnaps the daughter of a wealthy man, Iwasa, in an attempt to steal his prized jewel, the Star of Egypt. The episode also explores the film's fascinating cast of characters, including the ace detective Akechi, played by Isawa Kamura, who is essentially Rampo's Sherlock Holmes character. The episode discusses the film's unique blend of realism and magical realism, with moments of seemingly supernatural events that add to the film's unpredictable nature. The episode also highlights the film's impressive production values, including its costumes designed by Masako Watanabe, a notable manga comic writer and artist, and its score by Issao Tomita, a pioneer of electronic music. The episode concludes with a discussion of the film's ending, which is both tragic and beautiful, and a recommendation for viewers to seek out this cult classic.
Outlines
Introduction
This Chapter introduces the episode's topic, "Black Lizard," a 1968 Japanese crime thriller, and provides a brief overview of the film's premise and themes.
Black Lizard: A Cult Classic
This Chapter delves into the film's unique style and genre, highlighting its campy, bizarre, and visually striking elements. It also discusses the film's depth and the interesting themes it explores.
The Cast and Crew
This Chapter introduces the film's key players, including the director Kenji Fukusaku, the screenwriter Masa Shigi Narusawa, and the star Akihiro Miwa, who plays the title character, Black Lizard. The chapter also discusses the film's source material, a novel by Rampo Edo Gawa, and the play adaptation by Yukio Mishima.
The Plot: A Twisted Tale
This Chapter breaks down the film's plot, which involves a series of kidnappings, a chase, and a complex web of deception. The chapter highlights the film's twists and reveals, and how the audience is kept guessing throughout.
Act Two: The Second Kidnapping
This Chapter focuses on the second attempt by Black Lizard to kidnap Sene, the daughter of Iwasa, and the escalating stakes of the film's plot. The chapter introduces new characters, including the private detective Metoba, and explores the film's themes of obsession and the pursuit of a diamond heart.
Act Three: The Fortress of Crimeitude
This Chapter takes the audience to Black Lizard's fortress, a campy and stylish location that is reminiscent of other classic villains' lairs. The chapter explores the film's themes of love, death, and the pursuit of a soulless existence.
The Big Finish: A Tragic and Beautiful Ending
This Chapter concludes the film's plot, revealing the final twists and turns, and the ultimate fate of Black Lizard and the other characters. The chapter highlights the film's unique blend of tragedy and beauty, and its lasting impact on viewers.
Final Thoughts
This Chapter provides the hosts' final thoughts on the film, praising its style, its characters, and its overall impact. The hosts encourage viewers to seek out this cult classic and enjoy its unique blend of camp, style, and substance.
Keywords
Black Lizard
Black Lizard is a 1968 Japanese crime thriller film directed by Kenji Fukusaku. The film is a stylish and campy exploration of love, obsession, and the pursuit of a diamond heart. It is known for its charismatic drag performer Akihiro Miwa as Black Lizard, a super criminal who kidnaps the daughter of a wealthy man, Iwasa, in an attempt to steal his prized jewel, the Star of Egypt. The film is also notable for its unique blend of realism and magical realism, with moments of seemingly supernatural events that add to the film's unpredictable nature.
Kenji Fukusaku
Kenji Fukusaku (1930-2003) was a Japanese film director known for his work in action, Yakuza, and samurai films. He is also known for directing the 1978 film "Message from Space," one of the best of the "Star Wars" ripoffs, and the 1968 film "The Green Slime." He is perhaps best known for his late-career hit, the 2000 film "Battle Royale." Fukusaku's work is often associated with the Japanese New Wave cinema movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
Akihiro Miwa
Akihiro Miwa (born 1935) is a Japanese drag performer, actor, singer, and director. He is considered one of the most famous Japanese drag performers of the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for his role as Black Lizard in the 1968 film "Black Lizard." Miwa's career spans stage, film, television, music, and writing. He has also been an outspoken voice on political and social issues in Japan.
Rampo Edo Gawa
Rampo Edo Gawa (1894-1965) was the pen name of Japanese author Taro Hirai. He is considered a major figure in Japanese mystery, detective, and horror fiction. His works include "The Boy Detectives Club," "The Fiend with 20 Faces," and "Black Lizard." His work has been adapted numerous times for film, television, manga, and anime.
Yukio Mishima
Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) was a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor, and model. He is known for his highly successful writing, which fused modern Western trends with traditional Japanese elements. He was also a controversial figure due to his ultra-right-wing nationalist beliefs and his attempted coup in 1970. He has a memorable non-speaking role in "Black Lizard" as a shirtless knife fighter who is immortalized as a statue in Black Lizard's fortress.
Isawa Kamura
Isawa Kamura (1923-1981) was a Japanese actor known for his roles in Akira Kurosawa films, including "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Throne of Blood" (1957), and "The Bad Sleep Well" (1960). He also played the role of Detective Akechi in "Black Lizard," a recurring character in Rampo's novels and short stories.
Masako Watanabe
Masako Watanabe is a Japanese manga comic writer and artist, known for titles such as "Master of Morley," "Jack Riordan's Baby," and "Heidi." She is also known for her work as a costume designer, including her work on the 1968 film "Black Lizard."
Issao Tomita
Issao Tomita (1932-2016) was a Japanese composer and musician known for his pioneering work in electronic music and space music. He is known for his albums such as "Electric Samurai Switched on Rock" (1972) and "The Planets" (1976). He also composed the score for the 1968 film "Black Lizard."
Q&A
What is the main plot of "Black Lizard"?
The film revolves around Black Lizard, a charismatic drag performer who is also a super criminal, who kidnaps the daughter of a wealthy man, Iwasa, in an attempt to steal his prized jewel, the Star of Egypt. The ace detective Akechi is hired to protect Iwasa's daughter, but Black Lizard proves to be a cunning and elusive adversary.
Who are some of the key characters in "Black Lizard"?
The film features a memorable cast of characters, including Black Lizard, played by Akihiro Miwa, the ace detective Akechi, played by Isawa Kamura, and the despondent musician Unichi Amamiya, played by Yusuku Koazu. The film also features a number of other interesting characters, including the snake woman with the yellow demon eyes, Toshiko Kobayashi, and the rival private detective Metoba, played by Ko Nishimura.
What are some of the themes explored in "Black Lizard"?
The film explores themes of love, obsession, and the pursuit of a diamond heart. Black Lizard is obsessed with beauty and the idea of a soulless existence, which she believes is represented by the diamond heart. The film also explores the nature of crime and the relationship between criminals and detectives.
What makes "Black Lizard" a unique and memorable film?
The film is a unique blend of realism and magical realism, with moments of seemingly supernatural events that add to the film's unpredictable nature. It is also known for its stylish visuals, its campy humor, and its fascinating cast of characters. The film's ending is both tragic and beautiful, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.
Why should viewers seek out "Black Lizard"?
The film is a cult classic that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It is a stylish and campy crime thriller that explores interesting themes and features a memorable cast of characters. The film is also a testament to the creativity and innovation of Japanese cinema.
Show Notes
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Kinji Fukasaku’s weird 1968 super-criminal romp “Black Lizard,” starring Japanese drag queen Akihiro Miwa, based on the novel by Edogawa Ranpo and the stage adapation by Yukio Mishima.
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