 The movie was made as the first feature of the Committee of the Four  Knights, a group founded by four of Japans greatest directors:  Akira Kurosawa (qv), Keisuke Kinoshita (qv),  Masaki Kobayashi (I) (qv) and Kon Ichikawa (qv). According to a  interview with Ichikawa, they wanted their first picture to be a  hit. When this film told a story deemed too depressing and was  subsequently a failure with audiences, the group disbanded and never  made another film. The movies failure also contributed to  Kurosawas suicide attempt one year later.