© 2008 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title The Tale Of Osaka Castle
[aka DAREDEVIL IN THE CASTLE]
Japanese Title OSAKAJO MONOGATARI
CD Label Toho Music Corporation
CD Number TMSA-0001
Music composed by: Akira Ifukube
Number of tracks 49
Running time 76:12
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture March 17, 2008
Year of movie release 1961
(also known as: Daredevil in the Castle
Devil in the Castle
Osaka Castle Story

REVIEW

March 24, 2008

The movie this soundtrack is from came out in 1961. The movie stars one of my favorite Japanese actors, Toshirô Mifune, and the music is by my favorite Japanese composers, Akira Ifukube.

From ImDB: The movie is about Mohei, a wandering samurai, lost in grief and despair after his family is wiped out. He arrives in the city of Osaka, where the Toyotomi clan accepts him and comes to depend upon his courage and his battlefield skills. Those skills are sorely tested when Osaka Castle is besieged by an opposing army. Written by Jim Beaver {jumblejim@prodigy.net}

The music here is typical Akira Ifukube. Very pleasant to listen to with a mixture of marches, action pieces and slower tunes. If you've heard Ifukube's music from his Godzilla, monster or samurai movie scores, then you know what to expect. Excellent sounding disc with highly listenable music.

I have just recently seen a copy of this film on DVD. While the movie was entertaining I was a bit disappointed by it. Akira Ifukube's music fit the visuals very well. On one scene where the hero is in the lower depths of the castle looking for a long cave to make his escape you can hear the strains of some Godzilla music. The movie is no "RAN" and I was disappointed by the acting and cinematography in this film. Also, and this may be due to the English translations for the subtitles, I found the script and dialogue to be a bit simple. I actually enjoy the average Zatoichi film more than this film. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, just not as good as I expected. The music is great.

The Tale Of Osaka Castle
English track translations courtesy of Jolyon Yates

  1. Opening
  2. Main Title
  3. Time of Confusion
  4. Guard Mohei Rescue
  5. Osaka Castle Negotiation
  6. Master Yodo & Hideyori [Toyotomi]
  7. Guard Mohei to Osaka Castle
  8. Secret Passage
  9. Hole in Osaka Castle
  10. Sasonomaru Palace Event
  11. 2nd Meeting of Lord Hayato
  12. Lord hayato Crisis
  13. Portuguese Ship
  14. 2nd Meeting at Koma Bridge
  15. Ai Carried Away
  16. Whereabouts of Gold
  17. Betrayal of the Itamiya
  18. Ai's Recapture
  19. Osaka Castle's Fate
  20. Katsumoto Katagiri's Last Castle
  21. Castle Entering Reinforcements
  22. Guard Mohei & Ai
  23. Kobue's Resolution
  24. Save Lady Kobue
  25. Gun Transport
  26. Guard Mohei's Plan I
  27. Guard Mohei's Plan II
  28. Kanto Forces Attack
  29. Smash into the Enemy
  30. Winter Camp Ending
  31. Ending
  32. Clamor of the Battlefield

    33. Bonus Tracks

    YAGYU SECRET SCROLL [YAGYU BUGEICHO]

  33. Main Title
  34. Sword Fight in the Mountains
  35. Guard Jubei vs Tasaburo
  36. Art of Kunoichi
  37. Tasaburo & Lady Yu

    38. YAGYU SECRET SCROLL: DOUBLE DRAGON SECRET SWORD [YAGYU BUGEICHO: SORYU HIKEN aka YAGYU BUGEICHO: NINJITSU]

  38. Main Title
  39. Mysterious Mendicant Monks
  40. Chaotic Battle
  41. Lady Yu's Dream
  42. Completed Form
  43. Lady Sei's Last Moments

    44. LIFE OF AN EXPERT SWORDSMAN [ARU KENGO NO SHOGAI aka SAMURAI SAGA]

  44. Main Title
  45. Matsubara's Duel
  46. The Yearning Man
  47. Lasting Loss
  48. Jurota's Testament
  49. Ending