Synopsis
Fierce war breaks out when Shujiro’s rival clan attempts to sabotage his lucrative construction business.
1967 ‘昭和残侠伝 血染の唐獅子’ Directed by Masahiro Makino
Fierce war breaks out when Shujiro’s rival clan attempts to sabotage his lucrative construction business.
Shôwa zankyô-den: Chizome no karajishi, Brutal Tales of Chivalry 4, Il tatuaggio del drago: una cascata di sangue, 昭和残侠传:血染的唐狮子
Returning from military service, Hide (Ken Takakura), finds himself thrust into the Boss position of the Tomibasa Family, an honourable Yakuza backed organisation of firefighter/construction workers tasked with building an important trade expo site. But he quickly clashes with the Akutsu Family (lead by Seizaburo Kawazu and Bin Amatsu) who try stealing the contract from underneath the Tomibasa, resorting to murder and theft in the process.
The 4th entry in the 'Brutal Tales' series (though as with all the others, completely watchable standalone), sees Kiyoshi Saeki hand over the directorial reins to Toei stalwart and journeyman, Masahiro Makino. While he doesn't quite breathe fresh air into the series, he does deliver a much stronger film than the slightly messy third…
This has a very paint-by-the-numbers feel to it and none of the actors seem to be putting that much effort in. Also, none of the humor worked for me either. I've got to say I was pretty disappointed with this one.
The first film in this series not directed by Kiyoshi Saeki, and there is a noticeable dip in quality. Formulaic, which is to be expected, but generally flat all around.
Ken Takakura inherits the leadership of his gang of construction workers / firefighters. Their construction work is targeted by another gang who menace them to the point of bloodshed. There’s a subplot of the bad boss wanting to marry a courtesan who is freed by one of the firefighters by pawning their firefighting emblem, which is taken by the yakuza before they can buy it back. I think my main issue boils down to the fact that this yakuza business gets more focus than any emotional storytelling. It’s executed fine,…
Ökonomisch erzählter, wenn auch gewohnt routiniert und schmucklos inszenierter vierter Teil der Filmreihe, dessen überraschend leichtfüßige, bisweilen seichte Anfangsphase dank einer stetig ausufernderen Gewaltspirale in einem düsteren Finale münden.