This is one of a series of notes for A Chronological Biography of Akira Kurosawa.

A drama about a painter and a singer victimized by paparazzi who become entangled in double crosses.

I'm sorrt to say that I can't really recommend it.

Title: Scandal
Original Title in Japanese: Scandal
Running Time: 104 min
Year: 1950
Company: Shochiku
Writer(s): Akira Kurosawa, Ryuzo Kikushima
Director of Photography: Toshio Ubukata
Production Designer: Tatuo Hamada
Music: Fumio Hayakawa
Assistant Director(s): Teruo Hagiyama, Keizaburo Kobayashi, Shutaro Nomura

Cast:
Toshiro Mifune (Ichiro Aoe), Yoshiko Yamaguchi (Miyoko Saijyo), Takashi Shimura (Otokichi Hiruda), Yoko Katsuragi (Masako Hiruda)

The word "scandal" can cover a wide variety of behavior, ranging from the illegal, to the immoral, to the simply unfashionable. This word has been in use in English for five hundred years, and it has been used in so many different contexts that it is hard to know exactly how it is being used in any context. Really boring, technical tax evasion stuff? Scandal. Mayor's brother-in-law has a construction company with fat contracts? Scandal. College basketball players shaving points? Scandal. A Hollywood marriage ends when the star of a movie falls in love with his co-star and deserts his high school sweetheart? Scandal. A dress that is one size too small and two shades too red? Scandalous. Eating an entire chocolate cake for lunch, and following it with a bottle of wine? Even more scandal. Fill in the blanks: just about any behavior that is not 100% fit for public consumption is scandalous.

One problem that has arisen for me, however, is when scandal is used in cases of abuse. Recently, for example, there was a series of allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. This was described as a "scandal". I, personally, don't feel comfortable with this usage because the word "scandal" can suggest merely deviant or socially unacceptable behavior. I feel that calling cases like this "scandals" makes them seem like just trivial and somewhat amusing cases of misbehavior, rather than crimes. After all, if I go outside and someone punches me and takes my wallet, we don't call that behavior a "scandal", so why should we call a sexual assault a "scandal". However, since the word can be used in many different contexts, including clear cases of criminal behavior, my objection to this term is mostly a personal issue.

Scan"dal (?), n. [F. scandale, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. , a snare laid for an enemy, a stumbling block, offense, scandal: cf. OE. scandle, OF. escandle. See Slander.]

1.

Offense caused or experienced; reproach or reprobation called forth by what is regarded as wrong, criminal, heinous, or flagrant: opprobrium or disgrace.

O, what a scandal is it to our crown, That two such noble peers as ye should jar! Shak.

[I] have brought scandal To Israel, diffidence of God, and doubt In feeble hearts. Milton.

2.

Reproachful aspersion; opprobrious censure; defamatory talk, uttered heedlessly or maliciously.

You must not put another scandal on him. Shak.

My known virtue is from scandal free. Dryden.

3. Equity

Anything alleged in pleading which is impertinent, and is reproachful to any person, or which derogates from the dignity of the court, or is contrary to good manners.

Daniell.

Syn. -- Defamation; detraction; slander; calumny; opprobrium; reproach; shame; disgrace.

 

© Webster 1913.


Scan"dal (?), v. t.

1.

To treat opprobriously; to defame; to asperse; to traduce; to slander.

[R.]

I do faws on men and hug them hard And after scandal them. Shak.

2.

To scandalize; to offend.

[Obs.]

Bp. Story.

Syn. -- To defame; traduce; reproach; slander; calumniate; asperse; vilify; disgarce.

 

© Webster 1913.

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