Rope and Skin
Encyclopedia
is a 1979
Japan
ese film in Nikkatsu
's Roman porno series, directed by Shōgorō Nishimura
and starring Naomi Tani
.
's last film. Her retirement, while still at the top of her popularity, came as a surprise to her audience. When Nikkatsu first started its Roman Porno series in November 1971, the films alternated between contemporary stories, and period dramas. As the series progressed into the later 1970s, budgets were lower, and the films began to use almost exclusively contemporary settings. Because Rope and Skin was to be "Queen" Naomi Tani's farewell project, a higher budget was allotted to this historical period film. In a 1998 interview, Tani explained the reason behind her decision to quit acting after Rope and Skin. "I recognized that it had become difficult to control my body shape, to keep my skin in perfect condition. So rather than disappoint my fans, I retired. I want to exist in the audience's memory as a 'forever blooming flower.'"
The famous Toei
yakuza-film screenwriter Isao Matsumoto wrote the script based on a story by Tani's frequent collaborator, the SM-author Oniroku Dan
. Many critics have commented on Rope and Skins similarity to the Toei style, and Tani's character to the lead character of the Red Peony series. In their Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films, the Weissers give Rope and Skin a rating of three and a half points out of four.
1979 in film
The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released....
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese film in Nikkatsu
Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
's Roman porno series, directed by Shōgorō Nishimura
Shōgorō Nishimura
-Filmography:* Zankoku onna jōshi * Apartment Wife: Affair In the Afternoon * Affair at Twilight * Drifter's Affair * Sigh of Roses * Apartment Wife: Secret Rendezvous...
and starring Naomi Tani
Naomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
.
Synopsis
Okoma is a female yakuza and gambler who returns to her hometown after a two year absence. She finds that her old boss has been killed and a rival gang is taking over her own gang's territory. Okoma forms her own gang to seek vengeance. The rival gang captures and tortures her, but she escapes. In the ensuing gang war, the rival gang, and most of her old gang are wiped out. Okoma leaves again, alone in her victory.Cast
- Naomi TaniNaomi Taniis a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
as Okoma - Tatsuya Hamaguchi
- Hitoshi Takagi
- Shōhei Yamamoto
- Yuri Yamashina
- Junko MiyashitaJunko Miyashitais a Japanese actress who had a long and varied career working both in pink film and mainstream cinema.- Career :Junko Miyashita was born in Tokyo on January 29, 1949. She was working as a waitress at a coffee shop when she was recruited to work in Pink films....
- Ren Seidō
Background
Rope and Skin was "Nikkatsu Queen" Naomi TaniNaomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
's last film. Her retirement, while still at the top of her popularity, came as a surprise to her audience. When Nikkatsu first started its Roman Porno series in November 1971, the films alternated between contemporary stories, and period dramas. As the series progressed into the later 1970s, budgets were lower, and the films began to use almost exclusively contemporary settings. Because Rope and Skin was to be "Queen" Naomi Tani's farewell project, a higher budget was allotted to this historical period film. In a 1998 interview, Tani explained the reason behind her decision to quit acting after Rope and Skin. "I recognized that it had become difficult to control my body shape, to keep my skin in perfect condition. So rather than disappoint my fans, I retired. I want to exist in the audience's memory as a 'forever blooming flower.'"
The famous Toei
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
yakuza-film screenwriter Isao Matsumoto wrote the script based on a story by Tani's frequent collaborator, the SM-author Oniroku Dan
Oniroku Dan
was a Japanese author who had been called, "the most celebrated writer of popular SM novels in Japan." Many of his stories have been filmed, most notably by Nikkatsu studio in their Roman Porno series. Dan had a close professional association with actress Naomi Tani throughout her career...
. Many critics have commented on Rope and Skins similarity to the Toei style, and Tani's character to the lead character of the Red Peony series. In their Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films, the Weissers give Rope and Skin a rating of three and a half points out of four.