Black Rose Mansion

Customer Reviews:

So many layers..........2007-07-09

The idea seems to focus on love and the search for love. The Black Rose Mansion seems to be the center of the story, as men come to debate and even fight over the meaning of love. Can love ever be real? Can you ever find love or is it, like the Black Rose that can never turn red, a myth?
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, who directed Battle Royale and some of the Japanese sequences in Tora, Tora, Tora, this is a must for any Japanese movie library. Akihiro Maruyama plays the main female character. Akihiro's voice should be known to anime fans, as he was also Moro in Princess Mononoke and the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle.
Many viewers may be confused by the use of a male to play a female character but I would suggest trying to see past that and just enjoy the story as presented.
Extras include a interview with Kinji Fukasaku and trailers. Get it used or new.

Enjoyable film. A lightweight story with solid editing.......2006-10-29

Good not great, I'd give it 3 & 1/2 stars. Black Rose Mansion is from highly prolific Japanese director, Kinji Fukasaku who directed 61 films. One of his most famous films is "Battled Royale" is a gruesome film, this is more of a 'tale' and while there are a few fights scenes I did not find it excessively violent or gruesome. But also starring Akihiro Maruyama, in this film as the bewitching impersonator/ singer.

Black Rose Mansion is a softly told story of family relationships, choices, romantic love and it's often tragic consequences. I found this film fun to watch and had realistic and semi-enlightening exchanges between father and son. As well as some insight into the tradition of "Family" in Japan. The film is from 1968 and it feels dated and foreign (to this American viewer) but in a way I find enjoyable! (i.e. classic cars and stylish-classic Japanese furnishings, along with a slightly existential tone as is found in many films from late 60's/early 70's). What I most enjoyed was the sequencing of the film and the subtle yet effective editing techniques. I found this film fun, but the story is just slightly above average foreign films. The story does not rely solely upon dialogue and subtitles highly readable/ visible. Pairs well with popcorn or red wine.

A typical movie at that time in Japan.......2005-12-14

I have seen this move when I was 13, the beautiness of starring MIWA didn't affect to me, sorry, she was so old to me at that time. Now ? ah, I don't deny the beatuiness of her.The movie itself is not amazing level of art at that time, It was great years of Japanese movies.

Average customer rating:

The Dark Hour
"Dressing as a woman ... I know it's illegal."

The Dark Hour
Starring: Ray Walker , Berton Churchill , Irene Ware , Hobart Bosworth , and Hedda Hopper
Director: Charles Lamont
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001DMWSY
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Customer Reviews:

The Dark Hour.......2006-07-29

It is difficult to judge this film. It is 70 years old, acting and directing methods have changed, the acting may appear to be stiff, it is better than today's talent.

"Dressing as a woman ... I know it's illegal.".......2005-12-14

When wealthy, crotchety bachelor Henry Carson (William V Mong) is found murdered in his study, there are plenty of suspects. Henry Carson and his reclusive brother Charles (Hobart Bosworth) lived together in a remote mansion with their niece Elsa (Irene Ware). Shortly before his death, Henry seemed nervous, and no one is exactly sure how he made all his money. Young detective John Landis (Ray Walker) is romancing Elsa, and so more experienced, retired detective Paul Bernard (Berton Churchill) steps in to help solve the crime. The suspects include: a sneaky butler, a garden prowler, the cross-dressing uncle, Elsa's Aunt Tallman (Hedda Hopper) and an ambitious chemist who lives next door.

Directed by Charles Lamont, "The Dark Hour" is fairly unexciting, standard fare, and the entire production contains a stiffness and artificiality that is unappealing. While the conclusion of the investigation is unnecessarily complicated (it's impossible to guess who murdered Uncle Henry), little time is spent on motive. The idea that the plot contains a cross dresser makes the film sound more interesting than it is, but there's still some fun to be gained by watching 30s detective work. This Alpha DVD print was decent with just a few white vertical lines at the very beginning of the film--displacedhuman

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