Sansho the Bailiff
“Without mercy, man is like a beast.”
In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho.
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Cast
36 people
Kinuyo Tanaka
Tamaki
Known for
Ugetsu
The Life of Oharu
Yoshiaki Hanayagi
Zushiô
Known for
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum
Kyōko Kagawa
Anju
Known for
High and Low
Tokyo Story
Eitarō Shindō
Sanshô dayû
Known for
Chikamatsu Monogatari
Drunken Angel
Ichirō Sugai
Minister of Justice
Known for
The Life of Oharu
Early Summer
Bontarō Miake
Kichiji
Known for
Street of Shame
Princess Yang Kwei-fei
Yōko Kozono
Kohagi
Known for
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
Chieko Naniwa
Ubatake
Known for
Throne of Blood
Chikamatsu Monogatari
Kikue Mōri
Priestess
Known for
Ugetsu
The Life of Oharu
Ken Mitsuda
Prime Minister Fujiwara
Known for
The Ballad of Narayama
The Bad Sleep Well
Masao Shimizu
Masauji Taira
Known for
Godzilla Raids Again
Sanjuro
Ryōsuke Kagawa
Ritsushi Kumotake
Known for
Ugetsu
Zatoichi's Flashing Sword
Kenji Mizoguchi Director · Yoshikata Yoda Screenplay Fuji Yahiro Screenplay
United States release September 14, 1955 · Produced in Japan · Production Daiei Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
Production
Daiei Film
Production
Daiei Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
山椒大夫
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Japan · March 31, 1954
Theatrical
United States · September 14, 1955
Theatrical
Germany
July 17, 1964 · Theatrical
Greece
June 27, 2024 · Limited theatrical · Re-Issue (70 Years Anniversary)
Italy
September 2, 1954 · Premiere · Venice Film Festival
Japan
November 2, 2017 · Physical · 4K Restored
United Kingdom
August 28, 1954 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.