Conversation] Shinjuku Eiga Yokocho--Under the Lights of the Screen in 1977

Conversation] Shinjuku Eiga Yokocho--Under the Lights of the Screen in 1977

Hey, where are you going this week? Wanna go see a movie?"

"That sounds good. I heard "King Kong" is playing at Cinema Asahi. I heard that the big guy is going to go on a rampage. That's awesome. I hear the special effects are pretty cool, so it's worth seeing.

I'm impressed. But I heard they are also doing "Network" at New Cinema. I heard it's a socially-conscious film that takes a hard look at the American TV industry. It's a bit intellectual, and it's a good way to show girls that you're a cultural person, right?

"You're trying to be popular with girls again with your know-it-all attitude, aren't you? I'm sure you're trying to be popular again by being such a know-it-all. That's a mystery film that's getting a lot of attention, right? And they're also doing a double feature called "Stakeout". This one is a full-fledged detective story. If you want to be a detective, this is the one for you.

I'd like to see "Vessels of the Sand" for sure. I heard that there is also a double feature of "The Ten Commandments" at the Takarazuka Theatre. You know, the one where the ocean splits in half. It's a movie where God gets serious. But it's over three hours long, and I think my ass is going to hurt."

Three hours is a little tough.... I heard that "Eric's Youth" and "Hisshikatsu Shokushinin" are playing at the Takarazuka Little Theater. Isn't it cool to combine a period drama with a coming-of-age story? It's a little "chic."

I heard he's also working on a period drama called "Japan's Don. Hey, hey, hey... "Don"...that doesn't sound very professional. And it's a double feature with "Lady Oden and Asa the Head Cutter. This is going to attract a lot of people who like "ninkyo" (chivalry).

That's one thing, but don't you want to see something on a bigger scale? I heard they are also showing a double feature of "Alaska Story" and "Mother on the Cliff. Both of them seem to be very powerful works, about Alaska's wilderness and the tragedy of war, don't they? You can have a "cinema connoisseur" conversation at a bar after seeing these films.

"I see...you can choose as many as you want. But you guys are going to watch Nikkatsu Roman Porno again anyway, right?

"You idiot, that kind of thing is called a "back schedule! Well, which one shall we choose?

Well, I guess "King Kong" or "Vessel of Sand" would be the obvious choice. Then, if you have time, let's go to the next one, shall we?

It's decided. Let's meet at that coffee shop at Shinjuku station!