Stage-Struck Tora-san
Introduction  ''aka'' '''''Tora-san's Stage-Struck''''' is a 1978 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Nana Kinomi as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Stage-Struck Tora-san'' is the twenty-first entry in the popular, long-running ''Otoko wa Tsurai yo'' series.
Synopsis Tora-san returns from his travels throughout Japan to his family's home in Tokyo to find his uncle recovering from an illness. After a family fight erupts, he returns to the road and becomes friends with Tomekichi. When the pair come to Tokyo, they both fall in love with stage dancers.
Cast * Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō* Chieko Baisho as Sakura* Nana Kinomi as Nanako Beni* Tetsuya Takeda as Tomekichi Gotō* Masami Shimojō as Kuruma Tatsuzō* Chieko Misaki as Tsune Kuruma (Torajiro's aunt)* Gin Maeda as Hiroshi Suwa* Hayato Nakamura as Mitsuo Suwa* Hisao Dazai as Boss (Umetarō Katsura)* Gajirō Satō as Genkō* Hiroshi Inuzuka* Raita Ryū as Detective* Chishū Ryū as Gozen-sama* Shinobu Azusa as Shinobu Fuji
Critical appraisal Kiyoshi Atsumi was nominated for Best Actor at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony for his work in ''Stage-Struck Tora-san'' and the following film in the series, ''Talk of the Town Tora-san'' (also 1978). Yoji Yamada was also nominated for Best Director for these two films.Stuart Galbraith IV writes that ''Stage-Struck Tora-san'' is one of the weaker entries in the ''Otoko wa Tsurai yo'' series. He notes that co-star Tetsuya Takeda, a popular comic actor in Japan at the time, comes across as hammy in western eyes. According to Galbraith, the film works best as a nostalgic look at late-1970s popular culture. The opening dream segment is a spoof of ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' (1977), and there are references to Pink Lady as well as glimpses into Japan's economic situation of the era. The German-language site molodezhnaja gives ''Stage-Struck Tora-san'' three out of five stars.
Availability ''Stage-Struck Tora-san'' was released theatrically on August 5, 1978.In Japan, the film was released on videotape in 1996, and in DVD format in 2002 and 2005.
References ;Notes;Bibliography===English===* * * * ===German===* ===Japanese===* * * *
External links *  ''Stage-Struck Tora-san''  at www.tora-san.jp (official site)