Overlay: Fame and filmography of actors in Ugetsu (1953)

← Return to Rewinder: AI Analysis of AI Analysis of Film

Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
0	0	0	14

How were these counts calculated?

Counts based on original analysis categories (not yet classified).

Errors = Critical Errors + Imprecisions

Missing = Critical Omissions + Notable Gaps

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Ugetsu (1953), who was the most famous actor in it at the time of release, and what other notable films were they in?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

At the time of its release in 1953, the most famous actor in Ugetsu (also known as Ugetsu Monogatari) was Kinuyo Tanaka, although Machiko Kyō was rapidly becoming the most internationally recognized Japanese actress of the era.

1. The Most Famous Actor: Kinuyo Tanaka (as Miyagi)

While Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō played the central romantic/ghostly couple, Kinuyo Tanaka was the undisputed "queen" of Japanese cinema in 1953. Known as "Japan's Sweetheart," she had been a massive superstar since the silent era.

Stardom at the Time: By 1953, Tanaka had starred in over 200 films. She was so popular that during the 1930s and 40s, film studios would often put her name in the titles of movies to guarantee a hit (e.g., Kinuyo’s First Love). In 1953, she was also making history as Japan’s second-ever female director, releasing her directorial debut, Love Letter, the same year.
Other Notable Films:
- The Life of Oharu (1952): Just one year prior, she gave what many consider her greatest performance as a woman descending into poverty and prostitution. This film, also directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, won the International Award at the Venice Film Festival.
- The Neighbor's Wife and Mine (1931): She starred in Japan's first successful "talkie," which solidified her transition from silent star to modern icon.
- Sansho the Bailiff (1954): Released shortly after Ugetsu, she played the tragic mother in this another Mizoguchi masterpiece, further cementing their legendary director-actor partnership.

2. The Rising International Star: Machiko Kyō (as Lady Wakasa)

If Tanaka was the "legend," Machiko Kyō was the "superstar" of the 1950s Golden Age. She was the face of Japanese cinema's international breakthrough.

Stardom at the Time: Kyō was at the peak of her "international fame" cycle. She was promoted as a modern, sensuous actress (often compared to Western stars like Jane Russell).
Other Notable Films:
- Rashomon (1950): This is the film that made her a global star. Her performance as the samurai’s wife in Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece was instrumental in the film winning the Golden Lion at Venice and an Honorary Oscar.
- Gate of Hell (1953): Released in the same year as Ugetsu, this film won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and another Oscar. Kyō played the tragic heroine, Kesa.
- The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956): She later starred opposite Marlon Brando in this Hollywood production, earning a Golden Globe nomination.

3. The Leading Man: Masayuki Mori (as Genjūrō)

Though arguably less of a "household name" than the two women, Masayuki Mori was one of the most respected dramatic actors in Japan.

Stardom at the Time: He was recognized as a versatile lead who could play both noble and deeply flawed characters.
Other Notable Films:
- Rashomon (1950): He played the murdered samurai (husband to Kyō’s character), providing the film's moral and emotional weight.
- The Idiot (1951): He took the title role in Kurosawa’s ambitious adaptation of the Dostoevsky novel.
- Floating Clouds (1955): Shortly after Ugetsu, he starred in this Mikio Naruse masterpiece, often cited as one of the greatest Japanese films of all time.
  (Note: This summary was generated by Gemini 3.0 Flash + Search)

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] Ugetsu was released in Japan on March 26, 1953.

[2] Kinuyo Tanaka was widely considered the most famous and established actress in Japan at this time, with a career dating back to the 1920s.

[3] Machiko Kyō was gaining rapid international fame following the success of Rashomon (1950).

[4] Tanaka was frequently referred to as 'Japan's Sweetheart' or 'Japan's Mary Pickford' in her earlier career.

[5] Tanaka appeared in over 250 films during her career, with the vast majority released before 1953.

[6] The film 'Kinuyo no hatsukoi' (Kinuyo's First Love) was released in 1940, confirming the practice of using her name in titles.

[7] Tanaka was the second female director in Japan, following Tazuko Sakane (1936).

[8] Love Letter (Koibumi) was released in 1953 and was Tanaka's directorial debut.

[9] The Life of Oharu won the International Award at the 1952 Venice Film Festival.

[10] The Neighbor's Wife and Mine (1931) is historically recognized as Japan's first successful feature-length talkie.

[11] Machiko Kyō was frequently compared to Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in Western media due to her 'modern' and sensuous image.

[12] Rashomon won the Golden Lion at Venice (1951) and an Honorary Academy Award (1952).

[13] Gate of Hell (1953) won the Grand Prix at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival and an Honorary Academy Award.

[14] Machiko Kyō was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her role in The Teahouse of the August Moon.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

No oversights detected.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 Who was the first female director in Japan?

#02 What awards did Ugetsu win?

#03 Did Kinuyo Tanaka direct any other films?

#S SOURCES

anothergaze.com bampfa.org bfi.org.uk independent.co.uk reddit.com

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

▼

At the time of its release in **1953**, the most famous actor in *Ugetsu* (also known as *Ugetsu Monogatari*) was **Kinuyo Tanaka**, although **Machiko Kyō** was rapidly becoming the most internationally recognized Japanese actress of the era. ### 1. The Most Famous Actor: Kinuyo Tanaka (as Miyagi) While Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō played the central romantic/ghostly couple, Kinuyo Tanaka was the undisputed "queen" of Japanese cinema in 1953. Known as "Japan's Sweetheart," she had been a massive superstar since the silent era. * **Stardom at the Time:** By 1953, Tanaka had starred in over 200 films. She was so popular that during the 1930s and 40s, film studios would often put her name in the titles of movies to guarantee a hit (e.g., *Kinuyo’s First Love*). In 1953, she was also making history as Japan’s second-ever female director, releasing her directorial debut, *Love Letter*, the same year. * **Other Notable Films:** * ***The Life of Oharu* (1952):** Just one year prior, she gave what many consider her greatest performance as a woman descending into poverty and prostitution. This film, also directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, won the International Award at the Venice Film Festival. * ***The Neighbor's Wife and Mine* (1931):** She starred in Japan's first successful "talkie," which solidified her transition from silent star to modern icon. * ***Sansho the Bailiff* (1954):** Released shortly after *Ugetsu*, she played the tragic mother in this another Mizoguchi masterpiece, further cementing their legendary director-actor partnership. --- ### 2. The Rising International Star: Machiko Kyō (as Lady Wakasa) If Tanaka was the "legend," Machiko Kyō was the "superstar" of the 1950s Golden Age. She was the face of Japanese cinema's international breakthrough. * **Stardom at the Time:** Kyō was at the peak of her "international fame" cycle. She was promoted as a modern, sensuous actress (often compared to Western stars like Jane Russell). * **Other Notable Films:** * ***Rashomon* (1950):** This is the film that made her a global star. Her performance as the samurai’s wife in Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece was instrumental in the film winning the Golden Lion at Venice and an Honorary Oscar. * ***Gate of Hell* (1953):** Released in the same year as *Ugetsu*, this film won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and another Oscar. Kyō played the tragic heroine, Kesa. * ***The Teahouse of the August Moon* (1956):** She later starred opposite Marlon Brando in this Hollywood production, earning a Golden Globe nomination. --- ### 3. The Leading Man: Masayuki Mori (as Genjūrō) Though arguably less of a "household name" than the two women, Masayuki Mori was one of the most respected dramatic actors in Japan. * **Stardom at the Time:** He was recognized as a versatile lead who could play both noble and deeply flawed characters. * **Other Notable Films:** * ***Rashomon* (1950):** He played the murdered samurai (husband to Kyō’s character), providing the film's moral and emotional weight. * ***The Idiot* (1951):** He took the title role in Kurosawa’s ambitious adaptation of the Dostoevsky novel. * ***Floating Clouds* (1955):** Shortly after *Ugetsu*, he starred in this Mikio Naruse masterpiece, often cited as one of the greatest Japanese films of all time. (Note: This summary was generated by Gemini 3.0 Flash + Search)

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

▼

At the time of Ugetsu's release in 1953, Kinuyo Tanaka was the most famous actor in the film domestically, holding a legendary status as "Japan's Sweetheart" with over 200 film credits and a career spanning the silent era to the Golden Age. However, Machiko Kyō was the most internationally recognized star at that moment, having achieved global fame through Rashomon (1950). Tanaka's other notable films include The Life of Oharu (1952), Sansho the Bailiff (1954), and The Neighbor's Wife and Mine (1931). Kyō's notable works include Rashomon (1950), Gate of Hell (1953), and the Hollywood film The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956). Masayuki Mori was also a highly respected lead, known for Rashomon (1950), The Idiot (1951), and Floating Clouds (1955).

OVERLAY REPORT