Scandal
A chance photograph propels a painter and a famous singer into a libel battle that tests a dubious lawyer's conscience against the machinery of tabloid publicity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- earnest
- morally charged
- compassionate
- classic cinema night
- japanese film retrospective
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize the film's strong performances and socially pointed satire, while judging its storytelling and imagery uneven compared with Kurosawa's finest work.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hori publishes a salacious story based on a harmless photograph and openly treats litigation as publicity.
Ichirô's encounter with Hiruta's bedridden daughter influences his decision to trust the compromised lawyer and pursue justice.
The scandal press and celebrity culture reflect the film's critique of postwar Japan's ready acceptance of western values.
Attorney Hiruta's reputation as an ambulance chaser and shyster becomes inseparable from the consequences of the libel case.
Films like Scandal, and why
The Bad Sleep Well
shared postwar social critique, moral conflict, and courtroom-centered drama
Anatomy of a Murder
shared japanese legal drama structure, ethical pressure, and compassionate humanism
Ace in the Hole
shared media scandal, public reputation, and critique of sensationalist celebrity culture
Movie Details
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Release Date
- 1950-04-26
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (102)
Cast
- Toshirō Mifune
- Yoshiko Yamaguchi
- Yōko Katsuragi
- Noriko Sengoku
- Eitarō Ozawa
- Takashi Shimura
- Shinichi Himori
- Kōji Mitsui
- Ichirō Shimizu
- Fumiko Okamura
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Scandal about?
- A chance photograph propels a painter and a famous singer into a libel battle that tests a dubious lawyer's conscience against the machinery of tabloid publicity.
- What is Scandal like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Scandal as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Scandal violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Scandal.
- What did critics think of Scandal?
- Critics broadly recognize the film's strong performances and socially pointed satire, while judging its storytelling and imagery uneven compared with Kurosawa's finest work.
- Which films are like Scandal?
- Films with a similar feel include The Bad Sleep Well, Anatomy of a Murder, and Ace in the Hole.
- How long is Scandal?
- Scandal runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Scandal?
- In United States, Scandal streams on Criterion Channel.
