example, except for those made during the last years of his career, his movies featured male oyama actors in the female roles. Many of his films were shot at 8 frames per second, rather than the Western convention of 16 that was promoted by some Japanese modernizers, in order to save on film stock. Some critics have pointed to this economization, as well as to such elements as overexposure of some films causing the actors' facial features to wash out, as evidence of primitive film-making. Many of Onoe's works were short films; however, he also starred in feature-length movies. One of these, the 1910 Chushin-gura, is believed to be the oldest still-existing feature film, although the print is not complete: it is missing four scenes. Including Chushin-gura, only six of his films survive in lengths of at least one reel. Like many other early Japanese films, Onoe's works were largely destroyed by a combination of inadequate preservation in Japan's climate, the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923, and the bombing during and occupation following World War II. In 1926, while on the set of Kyokotsu Mikajiki, Onoe collapsed. He died later that year of heart disease. His funeral was the subject of a 1926 documentary, The Funeral of Matsunosuke Onoe. Notes References Abel, Richard, ed. Encyclopedia of Early Cinema. London and New York, 2005, External links 1875 births 1926 deaths Japanese male film actors Japanese male silent film actors 20th-century Japanese male actors Kabuki actors People from Okayama