FILM 1460: IKIRU

TRIVIA: When Takashi Shimura rehearsed his singing of "Song of the Gondola," director Akira Kurosawa instructed him to "sing the song as if you are a stranger in a world where nobody believes you exist."

The song sung by Kanji Watanabe, in the bar, is called Gondola no Uta, "The Gondola Song". Written in 1915, it is a song about women and how they should find love before their time has run out.

Director Trademark: Akira Kurosawa:  [weather]  Rain is present during the construction site scene. The swing scene, on the other hand, is calmly accompanied by snow.

FILM 1103: THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH

TRIVIA: CASTLE THUNDER: Heard at every mention of the Castle in the Air earlier in the movie and when the last five Demons of Ignorance merge to create the monster.

This film was actually made in 1968 but due to MGM's financial problems and frequently changing management, the film was not heavily promoted. When it was released in 1970, it was not a box office success.