Oedo Go-nin Otoko (1951)

Mizuno (Utaemon Ichikawa) is the new Hatamoto, a vassal for the Tokugawa Shogunate. He and his men have been harassing the residents of Edo, especially some of the other Samurai, sometimes effecting the common folk that are in the way. Mizuno's crowd pushed their way into the Kabuki theater, disrupting the event.

Things were starting to get out of hand. They were even picking on Mizuki Ayame (Kawarasaki Gonzaburo) the favorite Kabuki actor, until Banzu-in Chobei (Tsumasaburo Bando) got into the middle of it. Chobei, although not a full Samurai is designated as the Protector of the 808 towns of Edo. He's sort of a protector of the common folk. Mizuno was not happy to be told off by a commoner.

Ganpacho (Teji Takahashi) is a young ronin taken in by Chobei. He had protected Chobei from some thieves and is now tutoring Chobei's young son.

Mizuno is powerful, but doesn't have much money. He's in love with his servant girl, but is forced to try to marry a wealthy courtesan, Matsudaira Izu-no-kami (Kogiku Hanayagi),but she is in love with Ganpacho of all people. When Mizuno's men find out about this there is a big fight out in the streets where a citizen is accidentally killed.

Chobei is angry at the violence that Ganpacho had caused and had him run and hide at a temple. Mizuno is forced to sell a set of his valuable "western" plates, but the servant girl accidentally broke one of the plates, which caused angry Mizuno to kill her. Ganpacho, in his need for vengeance met with the Kabuki owner, screen writer, and the actor, Mizuki with the idea of a dramatic story of a Samurai killing a young girl over a broken plate. The temptation of a popular plot and a juicy part was too good to pass up.

You know that this isn't going to go well for everyone.