Episode 92: The Black Lizard feat. Ella Dorn
My guest for this episode is writer Ella Dorn. You can find her work at Fairyland on Substack and in other places, such as the New Statesman.
We discuss the wonderful 1968 film version of The Black Lizard, which is based on a Mishima Yukio stage adaptation of a detective story by Edogawa Rampo. The short story was originally serialized in 1934 and features Edogawa’s storied detective Akechi Kogoro facing off against the slinky “Black Lizard,” a lady jewel thief and master of disguise. Mishima Yukio adapted the novel into a stage play and the first production was staged in 1962. In the stage adaptation, Mishima—with Edogawa’s blessing—wrote in a love story between the Black Lizard and Akechi.
In 1968, another theater production was staged starring Miwa Akihiro as the Black Lizard and Miwa would then go on to star in the 1968 film version, directed by Fukusaku Kinji (Battle Royale). Music for the 1968 version was by electronic music pioneer Isao Tomita.
Miwa Akihiro is a fascinating artist. He survived the bombing of Nagasaki, became a beloved singer of chanson, and then and went on to become a mainstay of Japanese entertainment for decades to follow and even making his debut Kouhaku appearance in 2012 at age 77. All while refusing to compromise on his own unconventional aesthetic.
Along with the 1968 film version, we also discuss the 1962 film version of the stage play, which was directed by Inoue Umetsugu as a musical, and starred Kyo Machiko (Rashomon) as the Black Lizard. Inoue was a journeyman director who ended up making all sorts of films, including some for Johnny’s & Associates talents. The music was by jazz musician Mayuzumi Toshiro.
The Black Lizard remains in popular memory and new theater productions are mounted quite often. The “Black Lizard” character—like “Death” in Japanese versions of the musical Elisabeth—may be played by male or female actors, specifically the all female Takarazuka theater troupe is known for their productions of Elisabeth. The Takarazauka theater troupe also has a version of The Black Lizard in their repertoire, a new production of which is going to be mounted this summer.
Some of the other topics discussed are:
Ella’s piece on Katsyeye
Pinkpanthress as a “native” K-Pop consumer
1960s Hong Kong film, in particular the Shaw Brothers musicals
Aubrey Beardsley’s illustrations for Oscar Wilde’s Salome
Quentin Crisp and Divine
女形 (onnagata) is a term from kabuki theater (and please do check out Kokuho if you haven’t!) for men who play the female roles. And these aren’t camp men in dresses a la the Panto-dames—but men seriously playing women’s roles. The women of the all female Takarazuka theater troupe perform their opposite in the 男役 (otokoyaku). These are performance styles with long traditions in Japan. Kyo Machiko—who played the Black Lizard in the 1962 film version of the story—came up in an all female theater troupe similar to Takarazuka, which almost certainly informs her male disguise in the film.
Ella’s piece on Paglia
Valley of the Dolls as a visual reference for the 1968 film—I mention Sharon Tate’s babydoll nightie.
The 1960s Edwardian throwback era in fashion
Paul Schrader’s Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Gore Vidal on Mishima in the New York Review of Books (the piece is titled “Mr. Japan”) and his novel Myra Breckinridge
Responses to Lauren Oyler’s book of essays.
Jed Perl on Koons, one of my favorite takedowns
The BTS fan “journalist” from the Atlantic who attempted to leverage fan work into book sales
The tumblr aesthetic in late 2010s K-Pop feat. Cosmic Girls, BlackPink, and VIXX
K-Pop pulling references from the second generation feat. Yena, Hearts2Hearts, and LNGSHOT and building a internal narrative but can it work when the dominant agency wants to remove the “K” from K-Pop.
The faux “semiotics” of K-Pop and copying vs collaging, feat. Charlie XCX’s video for 360
K-Pop fans preventing serious critique of the genre by sending threats to anyone who attempts it.
Additional recommended viewing:
Jewel Thief (1967), the classic Bollywood thriller starring Dev Anand.
The Diamond Arm (1969), classic Soviet comedy featuring the legendary “song about rabbits.”
Charade, the classic 1963 Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant comedy-thriller
The songs played are:
1. 黒蜥蜴の唄 by Miwa Akihiro (1968)
2. 虹色の湖 by Nakamuura Akiko (1967)
3. 乙女の祈りby Mayuzumi Jun (1968）
4. 愛してヨコハマ by Carousel Maki (1968)
5. 白い蝶のサンバ by Moriyama Kayoko (1970)
6. メケ・メケby Miwa Akihiro (1957)
7. オリビアの調べ by the Four Leaves (1968)
8. 愛の果てに by the Peanuts (1968)
9. 당신의 뜻이라면 by Yang Mi-ran (1968)
10. ヨイトマケの唄 by Miwa Akihiro (1964)