Lightning Karate Blow

Ken Takakura's screen debut, following his admission into Toei ranks via the studio's annual New Faces program, came surprisingly enough in this pair of Okinawa karate films. The two-parter was released on Jan. 29, 1956 as two thirds of a triple feature. Both halves run just under one hour. The fighting is actually pretty good for the time, and it's fun to see Takakura as an impatient, bearded karate rascal.

• Taihei KobayashiScreenplay
• Fujio TsudaDirector

• Ken TakakuraCast
• Harumi UrazatoCast
• Susumu NamishimaCast
• Takashi KandaHiga Saburo (Gisen's Disciple)
• Isao YamagataNagoe Gisen
• Toranosuke OgawaCast
• Yoshi KatōCast
• Takamaru SasakiCast
• Akikane SawaCast
• Mayumi FujisatoCast
• Yuji KitamineCast
• Rikiya IwakiCast