Blu-ray Film Review | Radiance

The Betrayal (1966) • Limited Edition Blu-ray [Radiance] — contrived narrative leads to superlative swordplay

A naively honourable samurai comes to the bitter realisation that his devotion to moral samurai principles makes him an oddity among his peers…

Tokuzô Tanaka’s The Betrayal / Daisatsujin orochi showcases some quality swordplay and boasts what is certainly the most epic one-man-versus-many sequence of any classic chanbara movie. Perhaps not the best samurai movie to come out of the 1960s, after all there’s some stiff competition, but the finale where a lone outcast makes a stand against two armies of samurai, one of them from his own former clan, is essential viewing. Along with a fine central performance from Daiei Studio’s superstar Raizô Ichikawa, it’s the reason why it’s still held in such esteem. This new HD digital transfer, overseen by the Kadokawa Corporation and presented on Blu-ray from Radiance, will be welcomed by those with any serious interest in samurai cinema.