Gate of Hell

(1953)

★ 7.1 IMDb · 100 votes

Genres: Drama, History, Romance

Year: 1953

Runtime: 89 мин

Country: Japan

Director: 衣笠貞之助

Cast: 長谷川一夫, Матико Кё, 山形勲, 黒川弥太郎, 坂東好太郎, 田崎潤, 千田是也, 清水将夫, 石黒達也, 植村謙二郎

Plot

Japan, 1159. Moritō, a brave samurai, performs a heroic act by rescuing the lovely Kesa during a violent uprising. Moritō falls in love with her, but becomes distraught when he finds out that she is married.

In 1160, in the Heian Period, Lord Kiyomori travels with his court to another feud and his Castle Sanjo is invaded by two other lords, in a coup. The loyal samurai Moritoh Enda asks the court lady Kesa to pose of the lord's sister to create a diversion while the lord's real sister and his father flee in the middle of the people. Then Moritoh travels to meet Lord Kiyomon and fights with him to defeat the enemies and the coup fails. Lord Kiyomon rewards the warriors that helped him and when he asks Moritoh what he wishes, he requests to marry Kesa. The lord grants his wish but soon he learns that Kesa is married with Wataru Watanabe, a samurai from the imperial guard. Moritoh harasses Kesa and threatens her, promising to kill her husband, her aunt and her if she does not marry him. Kesa's decision leads the trio to a tragic fate.