-
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman AKA The Tale of Zatoichi AKA Zatôichi monogatari (1962)
The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.Director: Kenji Misumi
OVERALL: Draw-
-
Extras:Still gallery
-
Subtitles:English (optional)
-
Aspect Ratio:2.29:1
-
Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
-
TV System:NTSC
-
Soundtrack(s):Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono
-
Case type:Keep Case
-
Notes:Includes a 4 page booklet and 4 trading cards.
-
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
-
-
Extras:DISCS ONE - NINE (Blu-ray Copy)
DISC TEN (DVD)
* “The Tale of Zatoichi” (1962)
* “The Tale of Zatoichi Continues” (1962)
DISC ELEVEN (DVD)
* “New Tale of Zatoichi” (1963)
DISC TWELVE (DVD)
* “Zatoichi the Fugitive” (1963)
* “Zatoichi on the Road” (1963)
DISC THIRTEEN (DVD)
* “Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold” (1964)
DISC FOURTEEN (DVD)
* “Zatoichi’s Flashing Sword” (1964)
* “Fight, Zatoichi, Fight” (1964)
DISC FIFTEEN (DVD)
* “Adventures of Zatoichi” (1964)
DISC SIXTEEN (DVD)
* “Zatoichi’s Revenge” (1965)
* “Zatoichi and the Doomed Man” (1965)
DISC SEVENTEEN (DVD)
* “Zatoichi the Chess Expert” (1965)
DISC EIGHTEEN (DVD)
* “Zatoichi’s Vengeance” (1966)
* “Zatoichi’s Pilgrimage” (1966)
DISC NINETEEN (DVD)
* “Zatoichi’s Cane Sword” (1967)
DISC TWENTY (DVD)
* “Zatoichi the Outlaw” (1967)
* “Zatoichi Challenged” (1967)
DISC TWENTY-ONE (DVD)
* “Zatoichi and the Fugitives” (1968)
DISC TWENTY-TWO (DVD)
* “Samaritan Zatoichi” (1968)
* “Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo” (1970)
DISC TWENTY-THREE (DVD)
* “Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival” (1970)
DISC TWENTY-FOUR (DVD)
* “Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman” (1971)
* “Zatoichi at Large” (1972)
DISC TWENTY-FIVE (DVD)
* “Zatoichi in Desperation” (1972)
DISC TWENTY-SIX (DVD)
* “Zatoichi’s Conspiracy” (1973)
“The Blind Swordsman” documentary directed by John Nathan (1978) (with burned-in English subtitles) (57:37)
Interview with John Nathan (17:58)
DISC TWENTY-SEVEN (DVD)
“Serialized Success” a new interview with Asian-film critic Tony Rayns (27:13)
Trailers for all 25 films:
- "The Tale of Zatoichi" (1962) (2:13)
- "The Tale of Zatoichi Continues" (1962) (2:12)
- "New Tale of Zatoichi" (1963) (2:14)
- "Zatoichi the Fugitive" (1963) (2:08)
- "Zatoichi on the Road" (1963) (2:09)
- "Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold" (1964) (2:40)
- "Zatoichi's Flashing Sword" (1964) (2:13)
- "Fight, Zatoichi, Fight" (1964) (2:13)
- "Adventures of Zatoichi" (1964) (2:19)
- "Zatoichi's Revenge" (1965) (2:22)
- "Zatoichi and the Doomed Man" (1965) (2:38)
- "Zatoichi and the Chess Expert" (1965) (2:05)
- "Zatoichi's Vengeance" (1966) (2:16)
- "Zatoichi's Pilgrimage" (1966) (2:13)
- "Zatoichi's Cane Sword" (1967) (2:14)
- "Zatoichi the Outlaw" (1967) (3:21)
- "Zatoichi Challenged" (1967) (2:17)
- "Zatoichi and the Fugitives" (1968) (2:32)
- "Samaritan Zatoichi" (1968) (2:16)
- "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo" (1970) (2:47)
- "Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival" (1970) (2:13)
- "Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman" (1971) (2:14)
- "Zatoichi at Large" (1972) (3:03)
- "Zatoichi in Desperation" (1972) (3:10)
- "Zatoichi's Conspiracy" (1973) (3:19) -
Subtitles:English (optional)
-
Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
-
Picture Format:Anamorphic
-
TV System:NTSC
-
Soundtrack(s):Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0
-
Case type:Special Case
-
Notes:Packaged in a box featuring an essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien; synopses of the films by critic, novelist, and musician Chris D.; “The Tale of Zatoichi,” the original short story by Kan Shimozawa; and twenty-five new illustrations inspired by the films, by twenty-five different artists.
-
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
-
-
Extras:2004 Introduction by filmmaker Takeshi Miike (2:33)
"The Blind Swordsman: A Great Myth of Martial Arts Cinema" 2004 featurette (12:55)
Gallery
Theatrical Trailer (2:09)
Bonus Trailers
- Zatoichi (1:14)
- The Boxer from Shantung (1:07)
- Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (2:37) -
Subtitles:French (forced)
-
Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
-
Picture Format:Anamorphic
-
TV System:PAL
-
Soundtrack(s):Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono
-
Case type:Keep Case
-
Notes:Also part of the 6-disc "La légende de Zatôichi Vol.1" set which includes "The Tale of Zatoichi", "Fight, Zatoichi, Fight", "Zatoichi and the Chess Expert", "Zatoichi Challenged", "Samaritan Zatoichi", and "Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival".
Also part of the "Coffret Intégrale Zatoichi" set which includes 14 films: "The Tale of Zatoichi", "Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold", "Fight, Zatoichi, Fight", "Zatoichi and the Chess Expert", "Zatoichi Challenged", "Zatoichi and the Fugitives", "Samaritan Zatoichi", "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo", "Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival", "Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman", "Zatoichi at Large", "Zatoichi in Desperation", "Zatoichi's Conspiracy". -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
Buy this disc from
Amazon France
-
-
Extras:Gallery (2:13)
Trailer (2:07)
Bonus Trailer for "The Tale of Zatoichi Continues" (2:08) -
Subtitles:German
-
Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
-
Picture Format:Anamorphic
-
TV System:PAL
-
Soundtrack(s):Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
-
Notes:Standard reissue of the Mediacs limited edition.
-
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
-
-
Extras:DISC ONE (Blu-ray Copy)
DISC TWO (DVD)
* The Film
Gallery (2:13)
Trailer (2:07)
Bonus Trailer for "The Tale of Zatoichi Continues" (2:08) -
Subtitles:German
-
Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
-
Picture Format:Anamorphic
-
TV System:PAL
-
Soundtrack(s):Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Mediabook
-
Notes:Includes a 20 page booklet with writing by Christian Koch.
Limited to 2000 copies. -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
-
-
Extras:Photo gallery
Cast & crew biographies and filmographies
Theatrical trailer -
Subtitles:No
-
Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
-
Picture Format:Anamorphic
-
TV System:NTSC
-
Soundtrack(s):Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono
-
Case type:Keep Case
-
Notes:Digitally remastered from low contrast positives, telecine from the original negatives. Also in the "Zatoichi Collection DVD box set 1" (limited edition, available until Dec. 2004), which contains 6 entries from "Zatoichi" -series, and a bonus disc (with extras).
-
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
-
-
Subtitles:English (optional)
-
Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
-
Picture Format:Anamorphic
-
TV System:PAL
-
Soundtrack(s):Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono
-
Case type:Keep Case
-
Notes:Only available as part of 4-disc set entitled "Zatoichi: The Legend Begins" along with "The Tale of Zatoichi Continues", "New Tale of Zatoichi" and "Zatoichi & The Fugitive".
-
Special thanks to Rewind user Paul_Watters for providing these specifications.
-
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
-
OVERALL: Draw
The US Criterion and the French release for the differing exclusive extras.
Though note the French release has forced subtitles. -
CUTS:
- R0 America- Home Vision Entertainment - No cuts (96:02 NTSC)
- R1 America- Criterion Collection - No cuts (96:20 NTSC).
- R2 France- Wild Side Video - No cuts (92:01 PAL)
- R2 Germany- Plaion Pictures - No cuts (92:12 PAL)
- R2 Blu-ray+DVD Limited Edition Germany- Mediacs - No cuts (92:12 PAL)
- R2 Japan- Kadokawa - No cuts (95:56 NTSC)
- R4 Zatoichi: The Legend Begins Australia- Siren Visual - No cuts
-
Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!
-
Comparison added by Jari_Kovalainen on 08/04/04
Comparison last updated by James-Masaki_Ryan on 14/11/23UPDATE LOG:
02/04/11: Fixed typos in the film title.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
23/03/12: Added R2 France and R4 Australia.
06/08/14: Added R1 Criterion release.
26/12/14: Updated runtime to minutes/seconds, added DVDBeaver link.
14/11/23: Added Germany x2.
-
Rewind DVDCompare is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon Europe S.a.r.l. Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk, amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.fr, amazon.de, amazon.it and amazon.es . As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.