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Stage-Struck Tora-san

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Wikipedia article




'aka' 'Tora-san's Stage-Struck' is a 1978 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajir Kuruma (Tora-san), and Nana Kinomi as his love interest or "Madonna". (official site) 'Stage-Struck Tora-san' is the twenty-first entry in the popular, long-running 'Otoko wa Tsurai yo' series.

Synopsis



Tora-san returns from his travels throughout Japan to his family's home in Tokyo to find his uncle recovering from an illness. After a family fight erupts, he returns to the road and becomes friends with Tomekichi. When the pair come to Tokyo, they both fall in love with stage dancers.

Cast



* Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajir

* Chieko Baisho as Sakura

* Nana Kinomi as Nanako Beni

* Tetsuya Takeda as Tomekichi Got

* Masami Shimoj as Kuruma Tatsuz

* Chieko Misaki as Tsune Kuruma (Torajiro's aunt)

* Gin Maeda as Hiroshi Suwa

* Hayato Nakamura as Mitsuo Suwa

* Hisao Dazai as Boss (Umetar Katsura)

* Gajir Sat as Genk

* Hiroshi Inuzuka

* Raita Ry as Detective

* Chish Ry as Gozen-sama

* Shinobu Azusa as Shinobu Fuji

Critical appraisal



Kiyoshi Atsumi was nominated for Best Actor at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony for his work in 'Stage-Struck Tora-san' and the following film in the series, 'Talk of the Town Tora-san' (also 1978). Yoji Yamada was also nominated for Best Director for these two films.

Stuart Galbraith IV writes that 'Stage-Struck Tora-san' is one of the weaker entries in the 'Otoko wa Tsurai yo' series. He notes that co-star Tetsuya Takeda, a popular comic actor in Japan at the time, comes across as hammy in western eyes. According to Galbraith, the film works best as a nostalgic look at late-1970s popular culture. The opening dream segment is a spoof of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (1977), and there are references to Pink Lady as well as glimpses into Japan's economic situation of the era. The German-language site molodezhnaja gives 'Stage-Struck Tora-san' three out of five stars.

Availability



'Stage-Struck Tora-san' was released theatrically on August 5, 1978. In Japan, the film was released on videotape in 1996, and in DVD format in 2002 and 2005.

References



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