The Golden Flower

Original Title こがねの花
Japanese kana Rendering Kogane no hana
English Title The Golden Flower
Production Date 1929
Author Noburo Ofuji
Duration (minutes) 17
Sound silent
Color b/w
Plot Morning comes and the village is holding a festival. Dangobei, a kagura performer invited from a village called Tanokyu appears. He entertains the villagers with masks of a plump-faced woman and a comically distorted male face. Before long, the festival ends. Dangobei receives money and leaves for home. Going by night sends Dangobei down the wrong path, and he wanders into the Kuragari-toge Pass. In Tanokyu, his mother worries about him. A giant snake appears in front of Dangobei who is frightened by the dark path. Dangobei quickly puts on a kagura mask. The giant snake asks him his name. He says "Dangobei of Tanokyu" and pleads for his life. However, the snake thinks he said raccoon dog (because Tanokyu sounds like tanuki). When the giant snake asks him to turn himself into something, Dangobei puts on each of the kagura masks, and so the giant snake excuses him. Feeling relieved, Dangobei goes to light a cigarette, but the giant snake says he hates nicotine. The giant snake asks what Dangobei dislikes. He says he hates "money" as it is a source of alienation between parents, children, and siblings. After running for his life to return to the village, he tells the villagers about the giant snake. Then, the villagers go to kill the giant snake. The giant snake dies from all the nicotine and angrily throws lots of koban (oval gold coins formerly used in Japan) at Dangobei.
Description This Chiyogami Eiga was made based on Tanokyu (田能久), a traditional Japanese comical story. The story's protagonist, a dutiful son, tells a great snake that he dreads money because money turns people against each other, thereby eventually becoming a millionaire. The film was highly esteemed and was awarded the first Outstanding Movie Award from the Ministry of Education in 1931. The award certificate and the medal are among Noburo Ofuji's possessions.
Production Company Chiyogami Eigasha*
Distribution Tokyo Cinema Shokai*
Release Date
Credits: Director Noburo Ofuji*
Credits: Staff, Cast, etc.
Intertitles T1「こがねの花」、T2「この村の祭禮に 多能久の里より 招ねかれて 参つたる 神樂師 團子兵衛」、T3「やがて祭禮も終り」、T4「どうも 御苦労様でござりました これは我我の寸志 お受け下され」、T5「さやうなれば これにてお暇致します」、T6「左様なら 気を付けて行きなされよ」、T7「何處で道を違へたか 行けども行けども 山また山…・・」、T8「ここは噂に聞く くらがり峠ぢや」、T9「團子兵衛の歸りを 淋しく待つ 母親おくし」、T10「くらがり峠が 何の恐ろしいものか」、T11「ときは・・ 草木も眠る丑滿時…・」、T12「足音が こだまに響いて……」、T13「くはばら くはばら」、T14「南無地藏尊 助け給へ救ひ給へ」、T15「いやぢや いやぢや」、T16「助けてくれ~」、T17「神さま」、T18「佛さま」、T19「こりや やい!」、T20「一体貴様は何者ぢや」、T21「私めは多能久[タノウキウ]生れの 團子兵衛と申しまする者 命ばかりは お許し 下さりませ」、T22「なに! 多能久ぢやと」、T23「なに! タヌキぢやと」、T24「狸なら化けて見せろ」、T25「左様なれば 化けてご覧に入れまする」、T26「これにて ご勘辨下さりませ」、T27「見事な化け方ぢや 命は許してつかはす」、T28「やれやれ これで一安心致しました」、T29「時に煙草を一服 いかがで御座りまするな」、T30「やめてくれ やめてくれ」、T31「身共は世の中に 煙草のヤニほど恐ろしい ものはないのぢや 貴様は何が恐ろしいな」、T32「金でござります」、T33「金のためには…・・」、T34「親も」、T35「子も」、T36「兄も」、T37「弟も」、T38「仇となることが ござります それ故 金が…・」、T39「恐ろしうござります」、T40「大變だ!」、T41「大變だ!」、T42「大變でござります 誰か來て下され!」、T43「團子兵衛どん 何んとなされた!」、T44「まま 聞いて下され」、T45「その大蛇めは 煙草のヤニが 大の 嫌ひなそうにござります」、T46「そのやうな大蛇めは ヤニ攻めにして 退治てしまへ」、T47「大蛇退治ぢや 大蛇退治ぢや」、T48「きせるを 持つて 集れ 集れ」、T49「これ大蛇殿 人を殺めた天罪ぢや 迷はず常佛して下され」、T50「おのれ團子兵衛!」、T51「よくも身共の嫌ふ 煙草のヤニを人間どもに 教へ居つたな その返報には…・」、T52「貴様の恐るる金を 受けとれ やい!」、T53「こりや 小判ぢや 小判ぢや」。
Censorship - Date and Number 内務省検閲番号:F4371(1931年4月22日)、[参考]内務省検閲番号:D2888(1929年3月12日)。
References ・ "Introduction to New Movies (Part II): Chiyogami Movie Golden Flower," Eiga Kyoiku, No. 12 (February 1929), p. 30 (with photos).
・ "Outstanding Movie Awards," Ministry of Education Educational Movie Review 8, Social Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, November 1931, p. 46.
Frames per Second 16fps
Source of Digital Copy The 35mm nitrate positive owned by Ministry of Education -> The 35mm internegative owned by NFC -> The 35mm positive
Completeness no end title
Additional Notes
Related Links still photos<Noburo Ofuji Memorial Museum / Gallery>
certificate of merit<Noburo Ofuji Memorial Museum / Gallery>

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