This distinctive film, based on the 
traditional kabuki play, "Kanjincho," is 
Kurosawa's fourth film and was created 
to have the atmosphere of a musical. 
The film transforms the episode of 
Yoshitsune Minarnoto trying to pass 
through a checkpoint. Kenichi Enomoto, 
who plays Gounki, a character not in 
the original work, achieves a splendid 
performance. This film, produced in 
1945, was finally screened in 1952, 
seven years afterwards because the 
subject of loyalty emphasized in this 
film was seen as advocating the 
feudalistic ideas of prewar Japan.