Donald Richie RIP
 

Donald Richie dies at 88

:(

Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

RIP. I don't know his work as well as I'd like, but I know he was a real authority on Japanese film.

Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

This.

What would you guys argue is his best stuff? I never got to him. He did a few on Kurosawa, right?

Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

I always enjoyed listening to his commentaries on Criterion disks, especially the Kurosawa films; they were very informative and interesting.

Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

Haven't read them but I associate him with these:

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Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

Yeah, the one you pictured is the one I always think about when I think of Ritchie.


Yes, they are.

Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

I have some of his books, including this one, Japanese Cinema:

Japanese Cinema

and this one, The Japanese Film: Art and Industry:

Japanese Film

Both are basically boilerplate primers on mainstream Japanese cinema and are useful in that regard, but they have very little appreciation for popular genres, like Godzilla and Yakuza movies. (Godzilla isn't even mentioned in the first one while there's a page devoted to GODZILLA and Japanese sci-fi in the second one, which tends to give more coverage to popular genres, although still unappreciative.)

He also compiled his journals, The Japan Journals: 1947-2004:

Japan Journals

I've glanced through this one and was surprised to see him mention J-pop star Namie Amuro (look her up).

His book, The Inland Sea was made into a very good documentary film by someone else.

Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

Sad news. I have his Kurosawa book, and really enjoyed the parts I read. Still haven't gotten to hear his commentaries.

Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

He played a big part in introducing/promoting Japanese film to western audiences back in the 50s.

I have the two books davidh777 posted, and consider them both invaluable resources.

Re: Donald Richie RIP
 

Shit, I didn't recognize the name, but now I remember. I just watched the original Harakiri Blu-ray on Sunday and his introduction is there. It was awesome.


RIP

Re: Donald Richie RIP