Black Lizard

I hadn't seen any of Kinji Fukasaku's work from the 1960s so I thought BLACK LIZARD would be a good place to check it out. It's a lively adaptation of an old detective novel by Edogawa Rampa, although being made in the late '60s it has more than a touch of Bond to it with a super villain, an island lair, and some hotel hijinks. The detective doesn't feature too much here, the brunt of the narrative being given over to the Black Lizard character, a female nightclub owner played by a guy in drag. It's a highly stylised and frankly bizarre little film that labours some of the plotting, but it has some interesting surrealist touches to make it worth a look.

The most purely entertaining and amusing film I have seen in a long time. The dialogue between the two antithetically engaged principal characters reflects their exactly opposite ethics, and at the same time, their clearest view of each others thinking. Their well matched genius creates plot, foil, and counter-foil, throughout the film. I almost never watch a film twice. This one, I can't wait to see again.

Kenji Fukasaku's BLACK LIZARD (1958) was released in the US by CINEVISTA in the early 90's. The movie received a focused and limited release in the US, but its existence in video has developed a cult following that has gained momentum as the years has passed. With the totally bizarre appearances of then-Japan's most famous Kabuki theater transvestite Akihiro Murayama as the title role Black Lizard, Yukio Mishima's cameo as a "statue" or maybe even as an eerie stuffed human figure; a screen play by Mishima based on a story of one of Japan's most famous horror writers, Rampo Edogawa, and even music by electronic "planet music" guru Isao Tomita, this movie reads as a who's who in the arts and literature in Japan in the 60's. But many movies in the past created by geniuses have failed in delivering an intellectual as well as a cinematic punch. This is NOT the case with "Black Lizard". From the psychedelic settings, the poetic dialogue and tragicomic developments, the movie succeeds both as high-art "manga" as well as a well-thought piece of "agit-prop". Few movies deliver so much substance hidden under so much flash; it is one experience that has to be felt viscerally as well as intellectually. Unfortunately, the VHS version is out of print, and I do not know of any plans for a DVD release as of this writing. We wait anxiously until someone revives this totally bizarre and wonderful piece of art and it is released in DVD format for a new generation of anime-educated viewers.

(1968) Black Lizard/ Kurotokage (In Japanese with English subtitles) ART HOUSE THRILLER

Based on a novel written by Rampo Edogawa, centering on an attractive female professional jewel thief played by Akihiro Miwa or Akihiro Maruyama as the "Black Lizard"-hence the title, and Japans finest detective, Akechi played by Isao Kimura attempting to outwit one another, as they are competing for the "Star of Egypt". There's plenty of Jazz scores and additional to some dance numbers- this is a throwback to the old pop culture stylistically made with colors in the Andy Warhol mode. It is never boring and is uniquely made.

IMDB calls this a comedy. This is not in any way. It's a crime drama.

A jewel thief kidnaps a jeweler's daughter to obtain one of those one-of-a-kind diamonds you often see in movies. But a detective stands in her way.

First, the Black Lizard aka the woman jewel thief is played by Akihiro Miwa, a male actor known to crossdress professionally. Strange casting decision. He doesn't pass as a woman at all. Not even as an ugly woman. Unfortunately, that made a movie I'd rate at 9 as more like 6 and a half.

The acting is a mixed bag. Some are very good. Some terrible. But the direction was brilliant. Especially the little audio & camera tricks. There are a couple of things that are less than believable but some things in this film are a bit cartoonish.

All in all this is a very good movie. Biggest problem is I never could accept the lead actor as a woman. Very distracting. Yet I still recommend this movie.