Giants and Toys
Encyclopedia
is a 1958
comedy film
directed by Yasuzo Masumura
and starring Hiroshi Kawaguchi
. It portrays the increasingly frenzied efforts of the World candy company to compete with the rival Giant and Apollo companies over caramel sales. World (under the leadership of the machivellian Mr Goda) "discovers" a tomboy girl with bad teeth to be the center of their promotional campaign, involving colorful space suits and ray guns. It turns out that as she becomes famous that she's less and less inclined to go along with World's plans for her.
The film satirizes the instant manufacture of media stars, the decline of a gentlemanly business ethos (or the tradition of bushido
) and rise of a culture of ruthless corporate skulduggery, and the emphasis on work at the expense of personal life and health--Mr Goda's health has been so ruined by his diet of pep pills and tranquilizers by the end of the film that he is regularly coughing up blood.
1958 in film
The year 1958 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 16- "In the Money" by William Beaudine is released on this date. It would be the last installment of The Bowery Boys series which began back in 1946....
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Yasuzo Masumura
Yasuzo Masumura
was a Japanese film director.Masumura was born in Kōfu on Honshū. After dropping out of a law course at the University of Tokyo he worked as an assistant director at the Daiei studio, later returning to university to study philosophy; he graduated in 1949...
and starring Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Hiroshi Kawaguchi was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in 37 films between 1956 and 1983. He was born in Tokyo, Japan.-Filmography:Filmography of Hiroshi Kawaguchi include:...
. It portrays the increasingly frenzied efforts of the World candy company to compete with the rival Giant and Apollo companies over caramel sales. World (under the leadership of the machivellian Mr Goda) "discovers" a tomboy girl with bad teeth to be the center of their promotional campaign, involving colorful space suits and ray guns. It turns out that as she becomes famous that she's less and less inclined to go along with World's plans for her.
The film satirizes the instant manufacture of media stars, the decline of a gentlemanly business ethos (or the tradition of bushido
Bushido
, meaning "Way of the Warrior-Knight", is a Japanese word which is used to describe a uniquely Japanese code of conduct and a way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. It originates from the samurai moral code and stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and...
) and rise of a culture of ruthless corporate skulduggery, and the emphasis on work at the expense of personal life and health--Mr Goda's health has been so ruined by his diet of pep pills and tranquilizers by the end of the film that he is regularly coughing up blood.
Cast
- Hiroshi KawaguchiHiroshi KawaguchiHiroshi Kawaguchi was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in 37 films between 1956 and 1983. He was born in Tokyo, Japan.-Filmography:Filmography of Hiroshi Kawaguchi include:...
- Yousuke Nishi - Hitomi Nozoe - Kyoko Shima
- Yûnosuke Itô - Junji
- Michiko Ono - Masami Kurahashi (as Toshiko Hasegawa)
- Kyu Sazanka - Takakura Higashi
- Kinzo Shin - Kohei
- Hideo Takamatsu - Ryuji