Viewed on DVD. Restoration = ten (10) stars; subtitles = seven (7) stars. This is a sit-com that fans just would not let die--for more than 25 years! Initially a TV series, the "Tora-san" (Mr. Tiger) character, played by comedian Kiyoshi Atsumi, lived on in four dozen movies (the longest-running theatrical movie series to date!). In this the first of the series, Director Yoji Yamada strikes solid gold by successfully transforming a popular TV show into an even more popular movie. The script is witty (see below), the direction/editing is excellent, and the acting is just about impeccable. Fans of Japanese films will see both new and old talented faces including the fine character actor Chishu Ryu who seems to have been in just about every film made in Japan starting in the 1930's! Cinematography (wide screen, color) and scene lighting are super great, and the film score is marvelous (folks, this is a real film score not a musical mismatched patchwork often heard in contemporary Japanese movies). Exterior scenes all appear to be on location in "Old Town" Tokyo (Shibamata in Katsushika which escaped being bombed during the war), Kyoto, and Nara (the latter complete with real and inflatable deer). Subtitles are especially interesting. The viewer has the choice of subtitle color, dialog, and/or "head notes." The latter appear at the top of the screen to help insure viewers understand the word play in the script and the names of all signs (the DVD creators seem to be fearful that subtle Japanese humor will be lost in dialog translations alone--and they are right). Head notes are especially helpful in explaining mispronunciations intentionally written into the script, acting-tough gangster language, and the common inability of Japanese to read the names of others from their Chinese characters. Line readings are in every-day-conversational dialog with lots of contemporary slang. However, dialog subtitles are not always helpful or needed. Usually they are too long and flash by too fast. Sometimes they are overkill when the viewer is trying to read/comprehend two sets of translations (dialog and head notes) and the spoken word (mercifully, this is mostly confined to the first third of the film). A hilarious, more-than-minor masterpiece! WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.

Where character of Tora-san came out is an interesting topic. The huge success of this series of course owes a lot to the great talent of actor Kiyoshi Atsumi, and director and screen writer Yoji Yamada, but something about this story must hit close to home in the minds of Japanese audience.Tora-san is as imperfect as a human can get. Yet, he has no ill intentions to anyone he meets which makes him endearing to the audience. Also the culture of down town Tokyo is very special. Although people may not be rich or refined in modern ways, they genuinely care and look after each other, while holding to their tradition.Perfection is obvious in the story and cinematography presented by director Yoji Yamada. In some ways he shot some of the most beautiful scenes of his career in this series.This movie was conceived due to two events which precedes its creation. First was another movie starring Kiyoshi Atsumi called Haikei tenno heika sama (Dear His Majesty) which he made stellar performance in, and idea of using Atsumi in a similar role was conceived. The other was the TV drama version of this story where in the end Tora dies from a poison snake bite. The ending of this series was hugely unpopular with the audience, and this movie series was born with non-tragic ending for Tora-san in each episode. Initially the series was to conclude after five episodes, but due to its popularity, it continued for 48 episodes (Yoji Yamada's plan was to shoot 50 episodes, but it ended by Atsumi's untimely death).By watching this series, you will understand the underpinning of Japanese culture better than any class in sociology can give. The brisk exchange between the characters, quick tempered brawls, who cares attitude, self pity, abandonment, sense of obligation which are all unique to the Japanese society. Although Japan now wears a facade of modernization, in its roots is the feeling like those of the people in this movie. It embodies the modern representation of what the Japanese call "Naniwa Bushi".The movie is all star cast including Takashi Shimura, Chishu Ryu, future stars of J-drama like Daisaku Akino, and Gin Maeda. Stellar performance by Cheko Baisho as Sakura, and Sachiko Mitsumoto adds to the story.The seminal episode of Tora-san movie is a delight to watch both from the story, and its beauty.

This first film in what is purported to be the longest run series in film history tells the tale of Tora-San, an itinerant peddler who is thrown out of his father's house twenty years before but reconnects with his aunt, uncle and sister Sakura (the very pretty and sweet Chieko Baisho). Tora wreaks some havoc in their lives, like getting drunk and silly at a marriage meeting and ruining Sakura's chance to marry someone, as well as just being a real pain to those around him. There is a sentimental side to him also, and the best way to describe him is that he grows on you. This film features smallish roles by two of the greatest actors in film history, Chishu Ryu as a priest and Takashi Shimura, as Sakura's prospective father in law. They light up the screen when they're in the film. Kind of a film about a bygone era in Japan, as itinerant peddlers are all but gone, this film reminds me somewhat of the two "Always Sunset On Third Street" films, as they are also about a bygone era. Crazy, funny & sentimental, this film delivers. I have not seen any of the rest (so far, anyway) of the films in this series, but I am intrigued. Atsumi Kiyoshi, who plays Tora, is good in this. I recommend it, its a very good film.

First "Tora-san" feature sets up format for the rest of the series, with Tora-san returning home to Shibamata after many years estranged from his family. Atsumi is hilarious, Baisho luminous, and Yamada's screenplay and direction is sensitive yet uncomprimising. As Kevin Thomas of the "LA Times" told me for an article I wrote on the series, these pictures are "sentimental, but in the good sense of the word." The real surprise here is the appearance of Takashi Shimura ("Seven Samurai," "Ikiru") as Hiroshi Suwa's estranged father. His scenes and how they relate to Tora-san's own life, is emotionally powerful stuff sprinkled with some very funny moments as well. It's really a shame that NONE of these movies are presently available on home video in the United States.