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Poster for Gate of Hell

Gate of Hell

Seen it?

1953 | 86 min | Drama, History, Romance

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and 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 romantics and history buffs. If you loved The Magnificent Ambersons or Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 26 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1953: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Japan, 1159. Moritō, a brave samurai, performs a heroic act by rescuing the lovely Kesa during a violent uprising. Moritō falls in love with her, but becomes distraught when he finds out that she is married.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    93% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Won 1 Oscar: Best Costume Design, Color. Plus 2 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $500K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 23K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa

  • Kazuo HasegawaMoritō Endō
  • Machiko KyōLady Kesa
  • Isao YamagataWataru Watanabe
  • Yataro KurokawaShigemori
  • Kōtarō BandōRokurō
  • Jun TazakiKogenta
  • Koreya SendaGen Kiyomori
  • Masao ShimizuNobuyori
  • Tatsuya IshiguroYachūta
  • Kenjiro UemuraMasanaka