Sōjirō Motoki (本木 荘二郎, Motoki Sōjirō) was a Japanese filmmaker who served primarily as a film producer, but also as a writer and director. He was most famous for producing several films for Akira Kurosawa, including Seven Samurai, Ikiru and Throne of Blood.[1] He also produced films for other directors, including Mikio Naruse, for whom he produced Spring Awakens and Battle of Roses, and Kazuo Mori, for whom he produced Vendetta for a Samurai.[1] As a writer, he provided the story for Kei Kumai's 1968 film The Sands of Kurobe, starring Kurosawa favorite Toshiro Mifune.[2]
Sōjirō Motoki | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 June 1914 |
| Died | 21 May 1977 (aged 62) |
| Occupation(s) | Film producer, screenwriter, film director |
| Years active | 1938–1977 |
Besides the films he is credited with producing, Motoki also had an influence on other Kurosawa films. For example, he was involved in the production of Rashomon.[3][4] Motoki sent the letter to screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto inviting him to help expand the script of Rashomon.[4]
During the late 1940s, Motoki joined with directors Kurosawa, Senkichi Taniguchi and Kajiro Yamamoto (eventually joined by Naruse as well) to form a short-lived independent production company, the Motion Picture Art Association, which was responsible for such films as Rashomon, The Quiet Duel and Stray Dog.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b "Sôjirô Motoki". IMDb. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ "The Sands of Kurobe". IMDb. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ Hashimoto, S. (2015). Compound Cinematics: Akira Kurosawa and I. Vertical. ISBN 9781939130587.
- ^ a b Nogami, T. (2006). Waiting on the Weather: Making Movies with Akira Kurosawa. Stone Bridge Press. pp. 67, 74. ISBN 9781933330099.
- ^ Anderson, J.L., Richie, D. (1982). The Japanese Film: Art and Industry. Princeton University Press. p. 237. ISBN 9780691007922.
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