A Tokugawa Daimyo rebels against an his lord after the battle of Sekigahara. Samurai Matabei, a famous spear fighter and warrior, is a vassal of lord Honjo. One of Honjo's most trusted under-lords is Sanzaemon. He has designs on Matabei's fief, and he plots to kill Matabei. He finally convinces Lord Honjo of Matabei's guilt. Now Matabei must fight to survive.

When Katsukawa, a low ranking vassal, learns that his greedy superior, Tatewaki, has hatched a plan to expand his territory, he and his comrades decide to take matters into their own hands. Lots of action in this all-star production from Toei Films, the foremost studio during that era. As with so many of their films, this is highly entertaining, with lots of plot twists and exciting swordplay

『忍びの者』の高岩肇のオリジナル・シナリオを、『血煙り笠』の松田定次が監督した時代劇。片岡千恵蔵、大川橋蔵、美空ひばり、中村錦之助など東映を代表するスターが共演した、豪華なオールスター映画。売り出し中の清水次郎長による花会が行われる清水の町は、諸国の親分衆たちが集まり大賑わいだった。息子の名付け親である次郎長に息子を見せようとする吉良の仁吉は、兄弟分である神戸の長吉から縄張りを奪われた話を聞く。縄張りを奪ったのは、仁吉の妻お新の父である安濃徳だという。仁吉はひとりで安濃徳を訪ね、義理を尽くして頼み込んだが、安濃徳はまったく取り合ってくれない。仁吉は荒神山で安濃徳に立ち向かうが、凶弾に倒れてしまい・・・。

In 1701, Lord Takuminokami Asano has a feud with Lord Kira and he tries to kill Kira in the corridors of the Shogun's palace. The Shogun sentences Lord Asano to commit suppuku and deprives the palace and lands from his clan, but does not punish Lord Kira. Lord Asano's vassals leave the land and his samurais become ronin and want to seek revenge against the dishonor of their Lord. But their leader Kuranosuke Oishi asks the Shogun to restore the Asano clan with his brother Daigaku Asano. One year later, the Shogun refuses his request and Oishi and forty-six ronin revenge their Lord.