Tomu Uchida
Tomu Uchida
Biography
Uchida started out at the Taikatsu studio in the early 1920s, but came to prominence at Nikkatsu, adapting literary works with the screenwriter Yasutarō Yagi in a realist style. His 1929 film A Living Puppet (Ikeru ningyo) was selected as the fourth best film of the year by the film journal, Kinema Junpo. Many of his 1930s films featured the actor Isamu Kosugi. One such work, Policeman (Keisatsukan), has been called "a tremendously stylish gangster movie about the love-hate relationship between a cop and a criminal, once childhood friends" It is Uchida’s only surviving complete silent film. Uchida borrows from Hollywood gangster films and expressionist techniques in a story of a young policeman tracking down an old friend who is now a criminal. His work from the 1920 and 1930s possess a leftist social commentary and were often some of the most critically acclaimed films of the time. Kinema Junpo selected Jinsei Gekijo as the number two film of 1936, Karininaki Zenshin as the best film of 1937, and Tsuchi as the best film of 1939. The latter was praised for its realistic depiction of the lives of poor Meiji-period tenant farmers. Unfortunately, few of Uchida's prewar works survive in their entirety. In 1941, Uchida quit the Nikkatsu studio, and after failing to start his own production company, in 1943 began to work with the Manchukuo Film Association, although he never completed a film there. In 1945 he was taken prisoner and held in Manchuria until 1954, when he returned to Japan. Upon he return, he joined the Toei studio. His post-war movies reveal a strong genre stylist with no immediately discernible themes, much like many golden-age Hollywood directors. Uchida effortlessly directed chamber dramas, comedies, and samurai epics, often in color, and with a forward-looking dose of irony.
Personal Info
Known For
Directing
Known Credits
46
Gender
Male
Birthday
1898-04-26 (127 years old)
Place of Birth
Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Crew

1962

The Mad Fox Director

1961

Miyamoto Musashi Director

1960

The Master Spearman Director

1958

The Outsiders Director

1957

The Eleventh Hour Director

1957

The Horse Boy Director

1957

The Eleventh Hour Screenplay

1956

The Kuroda Affair Director

1956

Rebellion from Below Director

1955

Twilight Saloon Director

1940

History - Part I Director

1939

Earth Director

1937

Unending Advance Director

1937

The Naked Town Director

1936

The Crown of Life Director

1934

Sun over the River Director

1933

Police Officer Director

1931

The Revenge Champion Director

1930

Return to Heaven Director

1929

Sweat Director

1929

A Living Puppet Director

1927

The King of Rowing Director

1925

Crab Temple Omen Director

1922

Konishi Junsa Director