Cruel Gun Story

Nikkatsu was a studio in Japan in the fifties and sixties that produced garbage. A lot of it was "pink" which was japanese soft porn. A lot of it was yakuza and yakuza in prison pictures. As I said garbage, but there's a funny thing that can happen when no one is expecting anything good. That lack of interference can allow some young film makers to bud. So like a rose on a midden heap from Nikkatsu there are a few thorny gems.

"Cruel Gun Story," (Kenju zankoku monogatari) is one of these. It's a classic noir type film. Our hero is hard bitten but has a good heart and a good reason why he's a criminal. He lost his family in Manchuria save for his sister who is now paralyzed. For her he would do anything, and the crime bosses know that. They get him to plan and execute a daring theft of over 120 million yet. Unfortunately, the guys they set him up with aren't all trust worthy, and when you come to it is a crime boss a trustworthy person? There are crosses both double and triple, and a lot of blood will be spilled.

Some critics say this film is very anti western. They point that at the end it is set in an abandoned US military area and there are always US jets flying over head as if watching what is below. They point out how the film itself is a knowning pastiche of american noir films. Could be, could be, I say though just enjoy the film for what it is. A good violent heist film!