Million Film

Million Film (ミリオンフィルム) was one of the early independent studios which produced pink films. Along with OP Eiga, Shintōhō Eiga, Kantō and Kōji Wakamatsu's production studio, Million Film was one of the most influential on the genre during its first decade. Many of the most prominent directors and performers in the pink film genre worked for Million Film.

Million's beginning

Million Films was a subsidiary of Keitsū Productions, which ran a string of cinemas during the post-war years, including the Shinjuku Moulin Rouge, which Keitsū revived and ran as a movie theater beginning in April 1947. Late in 1968, Million began distributing films for other production companies, beginning with pink film pioneer Kan Mukai's Cruel Story of a Sex Film Actress (セックス女優残酷史, Sex Joyū Zankokushi) in September.

In its first year of existence, Million Film distributed films starring some of the leading performers in the pink film industry. Sex Drive (セックスドライブ), produced by Unimonde and released by Million in October 1968, gave future Nikkatsu Roman Porno queen Kazuko Shirakawa a role as one of lead actor Masayoshi Nogami's sex partners. Unusual for Nogami, who specialized in roles as rapists, Shirakawa's character is a willing participant. Produced by Yamabe Pro and released by Million in November 1968, director Jirō Matsubara's Orgy of Flesh or Bewitching of the Flesh (肉の競艶, Niku no Kyōen) was notable for teaming two of the most popular pink film actresses of the day, Naomi Tani and Mari Iwai.