The Great Killing

Set in 17th-century Japan, this action drama follows a group of conspirators attempting to stop a powerful official from seizing control of the shogunate. The official intends to rule through a puppet leader, and while a strategist organizes a plot to prevent this usurpation, most of the participants are betrayed and captured. A cynical samurai remains the sole survivor tasked with carrying out the assassination.

The film was directed by Eiichi Kudō, who had previously directed A Fishwife's Tale, Revenge for His Lover, and 13 Assassins. The screenplay was written by Kaneo Ikegami and produced by the Toei Company.

Released on June 3, 1964, the movie has a runtime of 118 minutes. It has been received positively by viewers, holding a rating of 7.3/10 on IMDb from 435 votes and a matching 7.3/10 on TMDB from 25 votes.