Watch The Tale of Genji (1951)

The Tale of Genji (1951)
Japanese Film, Drama
Japanese title: 源氏物語, Genji Monogatari

Official Selection 

The Tale of Genji (源氏物語, Genji Monogatari) is a 1951 Japanese drama film directed by Kōzaburō Yoshimura. It is based on the early 11th century novel of the same name. The Tale of Genji was released in Japan on 2 November 1951 and shown in competition at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.

It's based on Lady Murasaki's classic novel -- you can tell, because there's a beautiful, intelligent and kind young lady named Murasaki, who loves the Prince because he is handsome and brilliant and kind, and she gives such good advice; it's good to know that the Mary Sue trope did not arise recently. It's directed by Kôzaburô Yoshimura, one of the many highly competent studio directors of the Japanese industry, and beautifully shot by Kôhei Sugiyama, who was also cinematographer on a lot of Mizoguchi costume epics. It's a fine example of the sort of movie that was respectable for the highly educated classes in Japan, just like movies based on Henry James in America. This is no way inferior to the best work of Kurosawa and Mizoguchi and establishes Yoshimura as an underrated front runner in the best period of Japanese film making.  

Based on the classic novel by Murasaki Shikibu, written over 1000 years ago. Genji, the son of the emperor, has gained renown among the nobility of Kyoto for his charm and good looks, yet he cannot stop himself from pursuing the one object of desire he must never obtain: his father's young and beautiful bride. Following the tragic consequences of his obsession, Genji wanders from one affair to another, always seeking some sort of resolution to his life. More on Wikipedia or Mubi

Cannes Film Festival, 1952 - Official Selection 

Full Film (English subtitles)