DETECTIVE HIBARI:
CASE OF THE GOLDEN HAIRPINS
Original Title:   Hibari Torimonocho Kanzashi Koban
Company:  Toei Company Ltd.
Production Year:  1958
Format:  16:9 Widescreen - Color - 85 mins - English Subtitles
Cast:  MISORA Hibari, AZUMA Chiyonosuke, SATOMI Kotaro, SUSUKIDA Kenji
 Directed by:  SAWASHIMA Tadashi
Where to Buy:  www.kurotokagi.com
Oshichi, a famous girl detective, takes it upon herself to investigate the murder of a woman, which occurs during an event for the festival of the Asakusa Shrine. Misora Hibari was a huge star in Japan at that time, and her immense popularity led to many film roles. In those days Toei Films usually featured a musical number of some sort, and this is no exception. The tradition of incorporating music and dance into jidai-geki films lives on to this day, as witnessed by the 'Step-Dancing' segment in the current "Zatoichi 2004" by Beat Takeshi. In addition to fine acting and an intelligent story, there is some excellent swordplay here, with the top action hero Satomi Kotaro teaming up with the heroine as a drunken ronin with superb sword skills, which are put to good use in having to save her from the murderers trying to avoid punishment.



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