Ukikusa monogatari

Sparky Anderson, like most Hall of Fame managers, got his first job quite young.  In those days before weight training, year long conditioning, over-expansion, the DH and last, but not least, million dollar salaries, players had neither the incentive, ability or opportunity to hang on past their prime.  So, at 36, he was still older than every player on his team.  He earned the nickname "Captain Hook" for being one of the quickest to pull his starting pitchers for the bullpen.  By the end of his 27 year career, he stuck with his starters way longer than average.

Sparky himself never really changed.  The game kept on getting faster and faster around him.

So, when Donald Ritchie points out in the DVD commentary that Ozu's editing in 1934 was modern and fast, well, you can finish the story for me.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Recommended also: I think An Autumn Afternoon, Ozu's final film, is the best place to start.  The commentary track is superlative as well.