Movie Review – Lone Wolf And Cub #1 – Sword Of Vengeance

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Lone Wolf & Cub was a Highly controversial Japanese 1972 martial arts epic, filmed in 6 parts. The first two were later cobbled together crudely for US release as Shogun Assassin, which was banned for many years as a text-book video nasty. Plot wise, it features Tomisaburo Wakayama as Itto, a Shogun’s execution officer who finds himself framed for a plot against the Shogun by a ruthless rival clan, who murder Itto’s wife. Itto goes on a voyage of vengeance as a solitary Ronin warrior, but with his infant son (the cub) in a home-made pram, full of blades and killing devises. Itto takes down various bandits and saves villagers as he wanders through a Hell-scape Japan, convinced that he has nothing to live for but revenge. Heads, arms and legs are severed in cartoon-like blood fountains in Itto’s wake, but it is a beautifully crafted and filmed story. As Shogun Assassin it made no sense but the Japanese original is gory, yet glorious to watch. Arthur Chappell