Yukio Mishima was deeply appreciative of the traditional Japanese spirit of bushido and stern patriotism, and was very dissatisfied with the Westernization of Japanese post-war society and the subjection of Japanese sovereignty to foreign countries. The film of the same name, which he wrote and starred in based on his novel "Sorrowful Country", foreshadowed his end. In the film, a Japanese captain loyal to the emperor commits suicide by seppuku after a failed coup d'état in 1936.

Although Yukio Mishima has a high level of artistic attainment, he is a very naïve figure in politics, so he has always believed that only by restoring Japan's former emperor system and military constitution can Japan succeed, so he organized his own private armed "Shield Society" and planned an armed coup.

In March, Yukio Mishima led four members of the Shield Society to the Eastern Headquarters of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to deceive the commander's office into the director's office and kidnap the division commander as a hostage. Yukio Mishima addressed more than 800 non-commissioned officers of the Self-Defense Forces from the balcony of the headquarters, "The Japanese have become rich and carried away, but their spirit is empty, you know? He called for "abandoning the degeneration of material civilization, regaining the simple and stoic virtues and spirit of the ancients, and becoming a true samurai" as he staged a mutiny, overthrew the constitution that denied that Japan had an army, and made the Self-Defense Forces a real army to defend the emperor and Japan's traditions, but no one responded, and even loudly ridiculed Yukio Mishima as a madman. (For details, please refer to the movie "Yukio Mishima" filmed by Kanji Wakamatsu)

Yukio Mishima then retreated from the balcony and committed suicide by seppuku, a traditional Japanese ritual. Yukio Mishima Yukio tied a headscarf with the words "Seven Lives to Serve the Country" on his forehead, wrapped the part that was ready to be seppuku tightly with a white cloth, and shouted three times, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!" Then he took a short knife and stabbed himself in the abdomen, cutting a large wound from which his intestines flowed. Morita Bikatsu, one of the two shield members who came with him, used the famous knife "Sekisunroku" to make a mistake for Yukio Mishima, but he failed to cut off his head several times, Yukio Mishima Yukio couldn't bear the pain, tried to bite his tongue and committed suicide, and shouted in a deep voice: "Cut again!" Cut again! Force! ”。 The fourth correction was carried out by Koga Hiroyasu, a member of the Shield Society who had studied Iaido, and finally succeeded. After that, Morita Bikatsu also committed suicide by seppuku (also by Koga Koyasu). The other three members were each sentenced to four years in prison for "commission homicide".

When Yukio Mishima committed suicide by seppuku, many writers rushed to the scene, and only Yasunari Kawabata was allowed to enter. But no body was found. Yasunari Kawabata was so irritated by the incident that he told his students, "I should have been the one who had his head cut off." 17 months after Yukio Mishima's suicide, he also chose to commit suicide with a gas pipe, leaving no suicide note. The two committed suicide one after another, leaving countless questions for future generations. It is generally speculated that Kawabata Yasunari thought that Yukio Mishima committed suicide because he did not win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and Kawabata Yasunari also blamed himself for indirectly harming Yukio Mishima and committed suicide.

The sensation it caused at the time was very great. But for Downing, it has nothing to do with it directly, but he has never been able to understand the strange thinking of the Japanese, especially the Japanese literati. There was a suicide lover Osamu Dazai before, and now there is another Yukio Mishima who wants to launch a coup d'état and restore the emperor system after completing a trip around the world and interacting greatly with Western culture, as for the newly dead Yasushi Kawabata, the achievement is even more outrageous, no matter what others say, anyway, Downing looks like a martyr for Yukio Mishima

However, Downing didn't have time to care about the follow-up of this matter at this time, because he had to fly to the United States now. Because at this year's Oscars, "Roman Holiday", which is wholly owned by Downing, was nominated for five awards, namely Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Film and Best Actress that Downing values most.

In the face of such an honor, Jimmy and William Wheeler kept urging Downing to fly to Los Angeles quickly, but Hepburn did not directly urge Downing, but sent a short but meaningful telegram: "Boss, I hope to dedicate myself to you on the night I win the Oscar for Best Actress!" ”

Therefore, Downing has no reason to shirk it anyway, in fact, he is not surprised by this good result at all. After all, the classicism of this movie has long been verified in later generations, so whether it is the box office or awards, no matter how good the results are, he will not be surprised.

At this time, the Oscars had not yet developed to be as entertaining as in the later stage. At least there was no red carpet show, but when Hepburn appeared with Downing, it still caused a sensation among everyone present. Although many people don't know Downing, how can everyone not know Audrey Hepburn, the big beauty in this year's popular film industry, as soon as they saw that she was holding neither director William Wheeler nor the actor Gregory Peck, many people had already guessed that this unsurprising young man was the investor of this movie. It is said to be an American businessman who developed in Japan.

For Downing, many investors admired his vision and courage, because before the release, everyone was not optimistic about this film. First, the plot is too cliché, this kind of love story, Hollywood doesn't know that hundreds of films have been made, and it can be said that the selling points of this kind of film have been dug cleanly. Second, although director William Wheeler is famous and has won numerous awards, he has shot war movies before and has never had experience in making romance films. Third, the actor Gregory Peck is not only the first time to shoot a romantic light comedy, but also the first time to switch roles. Fourth, although the heroine Audrey Hepburn is very beautiful, this is her first time on the screen, and it is such a big investment, who is sure that she can shoot it well? Fifth, the cost is too high, and I actually went to Italy to shoot on the spot, this investor is really not afraid of losing money!

But the results of "Roman Holiday" after its release have been a resounding slap in the face to all those who have doubts, not only a box office hit, but also a super good reputation, many people have gone to the cinema to watch it several times, and even more, they went directly to the filming location of the film in Rome, to touch the mouth of truth in person, to see the Trinity Church in Rome, to rest at the Spanish Steps, to experience the feeling of a princess, and even the sales of the motorcycle that Hepburn rode in the film have increased several times. (To be continued.) )