A real favorite of mine. The film has such a 1970s vibe to it, an unusual crime film. Directed by Sidney Pollack with a script by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) with rewrites by Robert Towne (Chinatown), the film stars Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura.

If you haven't seen it, you should take a look. It won't be what you would likely expect.

Airing today at 3:30 PM Eastern (after Bullitt)

Cool. Thanks for the heads-up.

This is probably my most favorite movie of all time. It elevates the "martial arts" movie way above the usual genre, in fact it's really in a category all its own. I used to have a VHS version, and the caption called the movie "totally original", not just amongst action flicks, any Hollywood movie. I'd have to agree.

The scene Para posted happens at the end of the movie, and you may not believe what Mitchum has just done.

This looked like an interesting web site:

https://cinephiliabeyond.org/s...ss-gangster-classic/

My DVR is set to record.

Cast includes an underrated actor:
Brian Keith.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Cast includes an underrated actor:
Brian Keith.

Yep indeed, and in a different role than what we're used to.

This movie has a lot of surprises.

Veteran Hollywood character actor James Shigeta is also in it ([DIEHARD]"Where is Mr. Takagi?"[/DIEHARD]).

Great film, usually classified as neo-noir, although I don't seem to be able to think of post-classic period film noir in such terms; a failing on my part, no doubt. The Yakuza certainly does contain key elements of film noir- a return to one's past; secrets calculated to lead the viewer astray; the "unusual and cruel atmosphere" identified by Borde and Chaumeton as the one element a noir film must possess; a less than typically-satisfactory Hollywood ending, etc.

Robert Towne was brought in to soften Mitchum's character. Schrader feels no need to create characters with which the film's viewers will sympathize. The closest one can come to seeing Schrader's idea of a protagonist that hasn't been diluted by the studio is his Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver.

Fans of Scharder's scriptwriting will be familiar with the 1977 revenge film Rolling Thunder starring William Devane and the deliciously sexy Linda Haynes, with a small but satisfying appearance by Tommy Lee Jones.

For anyone who claims to really love film, Rolling Thunder is essential viewing.

If you want to see what Schrader had in mind for his ex-Vietnam POW Charles Rane- and the significant (to put it mildly) changes made by the studio- take a look at this excellent analysis from ten years back. As pointed out by this reviewer, Heywood Gould's script re-writes do indeed add much to the film. Devane's performance is excellent- he hits just the right note.

https://www.filmfreakcentral.n...rolling-thunder.html

As for The Yakuza, the thing that sets the 1970s tone of the film is Dave Grusin's score. I love the opening theme.

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Para, I really appreciate you posting these threads. I have a list of "to watch" movies now, thanks to you.

Good flick, I was introduced to it long ago by my dad, one of his favorite movies.

Ken Takakura was excellent in Yakuza,Black rain & Mr.Baseball

安らかに健さん