简介：“BentenKozo”isclassicalkabukiplayabouthonourablethiefandhiscomrades.Sasaki’s“BentenKozo”ismostfunnyscreenversionofthisstory.Withmanygreatstarsofjidaigekimovies.TomisaburoWakayamaforexample. InBentenkozo(HibariohakoBentenkozo,Toei,1960)HibariMisoraco-starswithKotaroSatomi,TomisaburoWakayama,&CheizoKataoka,animpressivesuperbcast.BentenistheGoddessofMercywhobaresaswordfordragon-slaying,&KozomeansKidorBoy,sothetitleliterallymeans"GoddessBoy." Sheiscastasacombinationwakashu(youngman,frequentlyimplyinghomosexualyouth)&onnagata(femaleimpersonator)namedKikunosuke,Kikuforshort.Kikuiscapableofgoingback&forthbetweengenders,inonemomentspeakinglikeahighbornyounglady,inthenextlikeastreetruffian,withtattooedshoulderstoprovehisstreetcredentials. OrphanedKikuwasraisedataBuddhisttemple&learnedtheatricalarts&martialartsasachild,whichwereusedtoputonstageproductionstoraisemoneyforthetemple,butalsotodisplayyoungladswhowereessentiallyforsaletothehighestbidder.Asthefilmopens,KikuisonastageperformingaNoh"redlion"dance,&apotentialcustomerisatthatmomentsendingmoneyovertothepriest'sseating. HeisfalselyaccusedofmurderingLadyOkugata,towhomhewasbeingpimpedbyavilepriestatthecorrupttemple,apriestwhotookinorphansthenwhenthey'reabouttocomeofagesellsthemtothetemple'swealthiestdonors.…