The Three Treasures

It's almost daunting from the outset, even on paper, to observe the veritable who's who of names and faces who had been operating both behind the scenes and in front of the camera for Toho, for years. The considerable length of three hours is also nothing to sneeze at. It seems terribly ambitious by these measures alone, nevermind the notion of recounting the myths and legends of ancient Japan, and fashioning a tokusatsu epic to rival the most grandiose contemporary epics of Hollywood. With great aspirations come great risk, but great risk also promises great reward upon success. Broadly enjoyable as 'The birth of Japan' is,' and admirable in no few ways with its enormous production, in this instance its overall success is nevertheless somewhat mixed. There is much to appreciate, certainly, but the rough edges in the production are just as evident, and the result is simply not all that it could have been. Even so, the ultimate quality is undeniable, and more than not thsi remains very worthwhile.

Toho wanted a spectacle, and by Jove, they got one. The filming locations are gorgeous, and the sets just as beautiful if not more so, whether we're speaking those rooted in reality or those of a much more fantastical nature. Exquisite imagination and detail was poured into the production design and art direction, and much could be said of other tangible facets like the costume design, hair, and makeup. All this is even more resplendent given the Agfacolor processing from which the movie benefits; if marginally less vibrant here than what we've seen elsewhere, in my estimation mid-century Agfacolor stands right alongside the comparable techniques and technology of contemporary Technicolor, or Eastmancolor, in being more glorious and desirable than what more modern film or digital processing is able to provide. This is to say nothing of the excellent stunts and action sequences, entrancing choreography, or the outstanding effects supervised by Japanese icon Tsuburaya Eiji, as rich and tantalizing as any he had ever given us. The picture further benefits from another terrific, thunderous, dynamic score by esteemed composer Ifukube Akira, ably complementing every mood and scene, and lending tinges of whimsical atmosphere and ponderous gravity to the proceedings. And as if all this weren't enough, we definitely can't fault the cast with their spirited performances, least of all screen legend Mifune Toshiro who invariably walks as if a titan among men.

Be all that as it may, in other regards 'The birth of Japan' is not so sure-footed. We know very well what filmmaker Inagaki Hiroshi is capable of at his best, readily demonstrated in the essential "Samurai trilogy" of 1954-56. He is not infallible, however; in 1969's 'Samurai banners,' for example, the presentation was hindered by an undeniable brusqueness that shortchanged the intended impact off the saga. This 1959 feature is at times marked by that same brusqueness, and is perhaps a smidgen overcharged and uncareful. It's not true across the board, and some sequences are indeed altogether superb; as one example, against all odds, a battle against a kaiju really is one of the top highlights here, being characterized by discernible effort and discretion. Yet other instances are not so fortunate, and some moments kind of raise a skeptical eyebrow. Taira Kazuji's editing is similarly troubled, often bearing a forced, unnatural curtness that's off-putting and regrettable. And in all earnestness, Yasumi Toshio and Kikushima Ryuzo's screenplay also shares the burden of responsibility. The framing is particularly difficult as to some degree we get two stories told in bursts, one within the other, and the shifts to and fro are not always handled so smoothly, producing some disjointedness. But this isn't the only issue facing the writing. It struggles at times to find the right tone, a matter echoed in Inagaki's direction. The writing also struggles at times with basic cohesiveness, as if Yasumi and Kikushima had difficulty devising the best way to communicate some scenes, beats, or ideas, let alone portions of the dialogue. I'll grant the possibility that some such problems in the writing may appear more pronounced for those who are unfamiliar with Japan's tales of yore, but that doesn't make them go away outright.

Still, though I've spoken at length of the faults with this title, it's hardly as if the sum total is bad. On the contrary, more than not it's very commendably well made, and solidly enjoyable. Even with some rockiness in how it is written and realized, the story is compelling and entertaining. Action, adventure, and drama are swirled together with hearty doses of fantasy, and scenes are reliably flavorful despite their imperfections. Not least with Tsuburaya on hand the big action and effects sequences are rather superb - absolutely including the last stretch - reminding in their own way of the most celebrated kindred endeavors seen in Cecil B. DeMille's 'The ten commandments,' William Wyler's 'Ben-Hur,' and other equally fanciful pieces such as 'The 7th voyage of Sinbad,' if not also jidaigeki classics from the same period. It may never achieve the full desired potency, but it endeavored mightily to do so; I recognize what it tried to do, and it does quite well. Would that the writing, direction, and editing were as perfectly, faithfully mindful as Ifukube was with his music, as Tsuburaya with his effects, and all others behind the scenes were with their contributions, for I do think that even the acting is affected in turn - and all the same 'The birth of Japan' surely even gathers strength in the latter half, with those perceived flaws diminishing. It's not wholly impeccable, but in fairness, neither are the most commonly noted points of comparison. Warts and all, Toho's ambitions paid off handsomely more than they did not, and in general I had a good time watching. Unless you're a diehard fan of someone involved there's no need to go out of your way for this, but if you do have the chance to check it out and a big block of time to spare, it's a movie that firmly earns a warm recommendation.