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Poster for Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance

Seen it?

1972 | 84 min | Drama, Action, Adventure, Thriller

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 24 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1972: an older pace and style.

Official Shogunate executioner Ogami Itto has been framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan, against whom he now is waging a one-man war, along with his infant son, Daigoro.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    85% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 29K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Kenji Misumi

  • Tomisaburō WakayamaOgami Itto
  • Fumio WatanabeBizennokami Yagyû
  • Tomoko MayamaOsen
  • Shigeru TsuyuguchiKurando Yagyû
  • Asao UchidaKenmotsu Sugito
  • Taketoshi NaitōIchige Gyobu
  • Yoshi KatōDanjô Tonami
  • Reiko KasaharaCrazy Woman
  • Akihiro TomikawaOgami Daigoro
  • Kōji SekiyamaKanbei