Ep. 23: SHOGUN ASSASSIN (1980) | Six Degrees of Kill Bill, Part VI

<p>For this week's Six Degrees of Kill Bill episode, we head back to Japan to discuss another film inspired by the work of LADY SNOWBLOOD writer Kazuo Koike.</p> <p>Koike's magnum opus is a Lone Wolf & Cub, an epic series that ran for six years and nearly 9,000 pages. Its popularity led to a series of six films, produced in Japan from 1972-1974.</p> <p>While the LONE WOLF & CUB films were released in the U.S. in their original Japanese language, English subtitled form, they didn't truly gain popularity in America until 1980, when a pair of film producers bought the rights, smashed together footage from the first two LONE WOLF & CUB films, added a new synth-heavy soundtrack and an English dub, and released it to the grindhouse circuit in 1980.</p> <p>The result, SHOGUN ASSASSIN, was a success and led many cinephiles back to the original films.</p> <p>In this episode, we'll discuss the history of SHOGUN ASSASSIN, from its origins as a manga all the way through the production of the LONE WOLF & CUB films, and its release and its legacy, including its use in Quentin Tarantino's KILL BILL.</p> <p>BUY OUR NEW MERCH: <a href='http://cinemashock.threadless.com/'>http://cinemashock.threadless.com</a></p> <p>Coming Up:</p> <ul><li> <p><a href='https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/kill-bill-vol-1'>KILL BILL VOL. 1 </a>& <a href='https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/kill-bill-vol-2'>VOL. 2</a> (2003/4)</p> </li> </ul> <p>Up Next: The Tragedy of Tobe Hooper</p> <p>Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by <a href='https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj8487dns3rAhXut1kKHWjpBtIQFjAAegQIBRAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fslasherfilmfestivalstrategy.bandcamp.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw3qXZCJdUiLORfY6MbQrpo5'>Slasher Film Festival Strategy</a>.</p> <p>This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, & Todd Davis.</p> <p>Visit our website for episode archives, blogs and more: <a href='http: