When the wife of the Shogun's Decapitator is murdered and he is ordered to commit suicide by the paranoid Shogun, he and his four-year-old son escape and become assassins for hire, embarking on a journey of blood and violent death.
"Shogun Assassin" was edited and compiled from the first two films in the Lone Wolf and Cub series, using 12 minutes of the first film, "Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance", and most of "Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx". Both were originally released in 1972.
The project was directed by Robert Houston and his partner David Weisman, a protégé of Andy Warhol and director of Ciao! Manhattan (1972). A fan of the original Kozure Ōkami films, Weisman had obtained the rights for $50,000 from the American office of Toho Studios. The film was distributed by Roger Corman's New World Pictures to the grindhouse movie circuit in the United States.
Reviews at the time of American release (1980) were not all positive, with Vincent Canby commenting on the mix and match of editing and how this is something like "What's Up, Tigerlily?" I would disagree with that, but I see where he is coming from. Canby also remarks that the samurai is "tubby", which is true, but I think that is part of his charm.
For me, this is a fun film ,and perfect for distribution by Corman. It may have been better as the original two films (I have no idea), but like this it makes a quick action thriller that drive-in fans will love. And it still maintains some of the great visuals, especially a desert scene that is quite clever.
"Shogun Assassin" was edited and compiled from the first two films in the Lone Wolf and Cub series, using 12 minutes of the first film, "Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance", and most of "Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx". Both were originally released in 1972.
The project was directed by Robert Houston and his partner David Weisman, a protégé of Andy Warhol and director of Ciao! Manhattan (1972). A fan of the original Kozure Ōkami films, Weisman had obtained the rights for $50,000 from the American office of Toho Studios. The film was distributed by Roger Corman's New World Pictures to the grindhouse movie circuit in the United States.
Reviews at the time of American release (1980) were not all positive, with Vincent Canby commenting on the mix and match of editing and how this is something like "What's Up, Tigerlily?" I would disagree with that, but I see where he is coming from. Canby also remarks that the samurai is "tubby", which is true, but I think that is part of his charm.
For me, this is a fun film ,and perfect for distribution by Corman. It may have been better as the original two films (I have no idea), but like this it makes a quick action thriller that drive-in fans will love. And it still maintains some of the great visuals, especially a desert scene that is quite clever.