{"id":1904,"date":"2006-12-05T14:05:55","date_gmt":"2006-12-05T21:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1904"},"modified":"2020-12-22T16:34:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T23:34:24","slug":"street-of-shame-1956","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1904","title":{"rendered":"Street of Shame (1956)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You can wipe off your rouge, but not the makeup of your trade.&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Poster-222x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Poster-222x300.jpg 222w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Poster-95x128.jpg 95w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Poster.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 222px) 100vw, 222px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nProstitutes in a Japanese brothel work to support their children, husbands, and fathers.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Feminism and Women&#8217;s Issues<\/li>\n<li>Japanese Films<\/li>\n<li>Kenzi Mizoguchi Films<\/li>\n<li>Prostitutes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nIn his final film, Kenji Mizoguchi once again shows enormous sympathy for the plight of women in patriarchal Japanese society. Like its virtual companion piece, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1733\"><em>A Geisha \/ Gion Bayashi<\/em><\/a> (1953) &#8212; but <em>unlike <\/em>most of Mizoguchi&#8217;s better-known films &#8212; <em>Street of Shame<\/em> takes place in the present, and showcases the difficulties Japanese women continue to face in terms of survival and self-support. A simple ensemble tale of five prostitutes is punctuated by ongoing news of a governmental initiative to delegitimize their profession; yet Mizoguchi wisely refrains from passing judgment on this sticky societal dilemma. While prostitution is clearly shown to debase these women &#8212; and is viewed by one (bespectacled wife and mother Michiyo Kagure) as an option only marginally better than suicide: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother-1024x615.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59076\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother-1024x615.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother-768x462.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother-1536x923.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother-449x270.png 449w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Mother.png 1549w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212; it is nonetheless the only way they can earn enough money to pay off their debts, which range from a father&#8217;s bail bond, to medication for a TB-ridden husband, to a simple desire for fancy clothes and jewelry.<\/p>\n<p>There are many powerful moments in this at-times didactic, yet still consistently moving, film. My favorite has the mercenary Yasumi (Ayako Wakao) running into one of her regular Johns at a cafe while he is eating with his family, being introduced as his secretary, and giving him a sly wink when leaving. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink-1024x612.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"383\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink-1024x612.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink-768x459.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink-1536x918.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink-452x270.png 452w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Wink.png 1541w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A particularly painful scene shows aging widow Yumeko (Aiki Mimasu) stopping to eat some noodles on her way to visiting her son, making herself presentable in the mirror, and being told snidely by the restaurant&#8217;s nursing proprietor, &#8220;You can wipe off your rouge, but not the makeup of your trade.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge-1536x922.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Rouge.png 1545w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the most startling scene shows tough, sexy young Mickey (Machiko Kyo) &#8212; who never stops eating, dancing, or shopping &#8212; propositioning her own father in angry defiance of his request that she come home and stop debasing their family name. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Proposition2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Proposition2-1024x626.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"391\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Proposition2-1024x626.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Proposition2-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Proposition2-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Proposition2-768x469.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Proposition2-442x270.png 442w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Proposition2.png 1533w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While Mickey &#8212; a hip and sassy girl in her American pedal-pushers &#8212; appears to be eagerly embracing prostitution as a way of life, she, too, has skeletons in her closet which have led her down this tenuous, socially-caustic career path.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nuanced performances by each of the five lead actresses<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still-1024x634.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"396\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still-1024x634.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still-768x475.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still-436x270.png 436w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still.png 1511w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many powerful, heartbreaking moments<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress-1024x620.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"388\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress-1024x620.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress-768x465.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress-1536x930.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress-446x270.png 446w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Actress.png 1541w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still3-1024x623.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"389\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still3-1024x623.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still3-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still3-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still3-768x467.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still3-444x270.png 444w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Street-of-Shame-Still3.png 1531w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes. Mizoguchi&#8217;s final film &#8212; listed as a Personal Recommendation and a movie with historical importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book &#8212; should be seen by all film fanatics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Foreign Gem<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0048933\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/street-of-shame\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You can wipe off your rouge, but not the makeup of your trade.&#8221; Synopsis: Prostitutes in a Japanese brothel work to support their children, husbands, and fathers. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Feminism and Women&#8217;s Issues Japanese Films Kenzi Mizoguchi Films Prostitutes Review: In his final film, Kenji Mizoguchi once again shows enormous sympathy for the plight of women in patriarchal Japanese society. Like its virtual companion piece, A Geisha \/ Gion Bayashi (1953) &#8212; but unlike most of Mizoguchi&#8217;s&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1904\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1904","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1904"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1904\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59078,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1904\/revisions\/59078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1904"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}