In 1958, at Nikkatsu, Imamura made his first film, "Stolen Desire". With this early tale of traveling actors, Imamura indulged in some of the controversial and eccentric themes that were to mark his career as a filmmaker. Nikkatsu, however, was not enthusiastic about his more radical tendencies, and forced him to make a series of lighter films with which he was not happy. "Nishi Ginza Station" was a comedy based on a pop-song. "Endless Desire" and "My Second Brother" were similar light fare that did not satisfy Imamura.