Aa Mujo, 1923
Based on: Les Misérables
The first Japanese version, entitled Aa Mujo (Ah, No Mercy) was made in 1923 by Shochiku's Tokyo studio and released in two parts. Part 1, entitled "Wandering," was directed by Kiyohiko Ushihara and released on April 1, 1923. This part covers Jean's early life and imprisonment and his encounter with the Bishop. Part 2, entitled "The Mayor," was directed by Yoshinobu Ikeda and released on April 30, 1923. As the title indicates, the second part deals with Valjean's career as a mayor. Shochiku had intended to film Hugo's entire story in four parts (each one feature-length) but, apparently because of disappointing box office returns, cancelled production of the third and fourth parts.
Aa Mujo was given an ancient Chinese setting due to the contemporary Japanese popularity of American films with Chinese characters and settings, such as Griffith's Broken Blossoms. According to Ushihara's recollections nearly 60 years later, the scenes at the Bishop's house were filmed at the Mampukuji Temple at Uji, the headquarters of the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism built in the Chinese style, while the prison scenes were shot in a building at the compound of Yokohama's Chinese cemetery with Ushihara himself playing a jailer.
For more details on the film's co-director, Kiyohiko Ushihara, read William M. Drew's article on the silent film, "Shingun."
Information provided by William M. Drew
Released
1923
Shochiku
Director
Kiyohiko Ushihara
Yoshinobu Ikeda
Cast
Masao Inoue
(Jean Valjean)