The Blue Beast

The ruthless and ambitious Yasuhiko uses his charm to manipulate and exploit those around him to climb the corporate social ladder. His cold-blooded ascent eventually leads to moral decay as his past actions begin to catch up with him.

Directed by Hiromichi Horikawa, The Blue Beast leans on a strong ensemble — Tatsuya Nakadai, Yōko Tsukasa, Keiko Awaji — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1960.