Directed by Takashi Nomura
Written by Hideichi Nagahara and Nobuo Yamada
1967/Japan
Nikkatsu
First viewing/Criterion Channel
[box] War is the statesman’s game, the priest’s delight, the lawyer’s jest, the hired assassin’s trade. — Percy Bysshe Shelley[/box]
This is one of the better of the many “noir” gangster movies put out by Japan’s Nikkatsu studio in its prime.
Jo “Chipmunk Cheek” Shishido plays Shuji Kamamura, an assassin for hire. As the film begins, he is assigned to kill a mob boss. His target is heavily protected. Then Kamamura’s boss is offered a lot of money to wipe his employee out.
I find these things are a bit samey in the plot but generally of a fairly high standard. I particularly liked director Nomura’s attention to detail. But best of all was the jazzy score!
Hear Morricone’s influence?
Hi Bumble Bea
Nah, whenever I watch certain westerns all I can hear is some Eyetalian guy ripping off Harumi Ibe!!
(yet to see this one…but it is on the list)
Hope you’ve got this lined up for 1968-
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122136/
Definitely got The Black Cat in my sights!
It’s been a while since I saw anything worthy of being ” a classic”, but this is a modern one (2018) you **must** watch, superb and memorable IMHO.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8075192/
So glad to see you in the comments again! And what looks like an excellent tip!
All my comments are excellent, goes without saying LOL.
However my memory isn’t much good at all….should have added this magical item seen a couple of days ago (note not subbed but they are not needed IMHO – and comments will make it clear if it doesn’t gel)
You really know how to get the old waterworks flowing!
Happened to old cynical me too heh heh, a marvelous piece of craft in just a few minutes.
….should have added that not knowing much about this one before watching made it so much more enjoyable as it slowly reveals the story.