The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1952)

The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail 1952 / 虎の尾を踏む男達 1952 / Tora no O o Fumu Otokotachi , They Who Step on the Tiger's Tail , They Who Step on the Tail of the Tiger , Men Stepping On The Tiger's Tail , 虎の尾を踏む男たち , Walkers on the Tiger's Tail

In 1185, the Heike family fights against the Minamoto family. After a bloody naval battle in the Pacific Ocean, Yoshitsune Minamoto defeats the enemy and the survivors commit suicide. When the triumphant Yoshitsune arrives in Kyoto, his brother, the Shogun Yoritomo, is uneasy and orders his men to arrest Yoshitsune. However, Yoshitsune escapes with six loyal samurai led by Benkei and they head to the country of his only friend Hidehira Fujiwara. Near the border, after crossing the forest disguised as monks, their porter discovers that they are Yoshitsune and the six samurais and advises that the fearful Kajiwara and his soldiers are waiting for them at the border to arrest them. Yoshitsune disguises himself as a porter and at the barrier, Benkei has to convince Kajiwara that they are six monks traveling to collect donations to repair the Todai temple in Nara. ~~ The film was initially banned by the occupying Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP) due to its portrayal of feudal values. It was later released after the signing of the Treaty of San Francisco in 1952. Adapted from the kabuki play Kanjinchō, which is in turn based on the Noh play Ataka.