1961 Japanese movie

Featuring some of the finest swordsmen ever to grace the silver screen, this Toei classic tells the story of a battle between the evil sword style called ”Otonashi” (The Silent Form) and the proper way of swordsmanship as promoted by such historical stalwarts as Shimada Toranosuke, and the mysterious Honda Sakon, who face off against a group masquerading as the lord of Mito and his traveling bodyguards Suke-san and Kaku-san. The plot thickens as their leader unveils his secret plan to disrupt the stability of the nation. It is all in the name of swordsmanship, and as the title implies there are no stronger swordsmen!

In the midst of the warring age, a young samurai Kyonosuke defies his former lord Hojo Ujikatsu in order to avenge his parents’ deaths.

Kurama Tengu is a hero to the common people, saving them from the malicious attacks of Kinnoroshi and Shinsengumi.

Kichizaburo, a samurai keeping peace in Edo, helps a young geisha Kozome avenge her father’s death.

This is the second film in the popular black and white series about the master swordsman, Yagyu Jubei. When the Yagyu clan falls victim to rival Kasumi spies, Yagyu Jubei is called to action to protect them. But in performing his duty, he becomes the target of those who wish to destroy his clan.

Two groups are after the legendary Yagyu Secret Scrolls. A princess of a disgraced clan and her loyal servant want it to clear their family's name. And a rival clan wants it to destroy the Yagyu family. Only master swordsman, Yagyu Jubei stands in their way. What is the secret that is hidden away in the scrolls?

悪魔の手毬唄 Devil'ｓ Nursery Rhyme 1961（昭和36年）/11/15公開　84分　モノクロ　シネスコ　映倫番号：12631 配給：東映　製作：東映 鬼首村という山郷に伝わる手毬唄が、次々と殺人を予告していく。その不可解な謎に、私立探偵金田一耕助がスポーツカーを駆って挑んでいく。 人気流行歌手の和泉須磨子が、故郷の鬼首町鬼塚村に里帰りする途中で、惨殺死体となって発見された。ラジオからは彼女の新曲「鬼首村手毬唄」が流れていた…。鬼首町警察の捜査本部では主任の磯川警部が早速捜査を開始。名探偵・金田一耕助も温泉宿「亀の湯」に宿を取り調査を開始する。須磨子の生まれた仁礼家は鬼塚一の富豪であるが、当主の剛造は「手毬唄」に怯えていた。そんな中、辰蔵という男が剛造の前に十八年ぶりに現れた。一方金田一は、亀の湯に泊まっている学生の遠藤和雄が仁礼家の次女・里子の学友であることを知る。また、湯治客の放庵は「手毬唄」を口ずさみ、別の湯治客・石山の部屋からは謡曲が聞こえてくる。不気味な状況の中で仁礼家の長男・源一郎と里子は、須磨子の死が剛造に届いた脅迫状と関連していると怯えるが、遂に銃声が鳴り響き、駆けつけた金田一は源一郎の死体を発見する。しかしこれを「自殺に見せかけた毒殺」と見破った金田一は現場検証の帰りに村のお告げ婆・おいとに出会う。おいとは放庵が村の暗い過去を知っているとささやくのであった。