I discovered this movie by accident. One doesn't expect a first-class spy thriller from Japan from the mid-1960s, but I discovered a diamond in the rough. I've seen many spy thrillers -- almost all the movies available. At least that's what I thought until I watched this movie, The Spy School.
The story, script, acting, and the production level excel most of the spy movies of the West. I would even say that it is better than Le Carre's The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.
This movie offers a precious insight into the pre-WWII mindset of the Japanese military. The story took place before WWII takes place in Europe. The Japanese considers the UK and the US to be their adversaries in the coming war, and are in desperate need of deciphering the British diplomatic code.
How the private spy school is organized and staffed with the brightest minds from top university graduates is credible. The main character, Jina, and his beautiful fiance, Yukiko, are both attractive and credible. How the spy school would try to create legends for the spy candidates by hiding their whereabouts is also credible.
The movie deals with pre-digital age espionage when enemy codebooks had to be stolen from consulate safes. The script is intelligent and clear and so is the acting. The storyline moves forward with speed unlike many Asian melodramatic movies. This movie is very Western in its method of dealing with the subject matter.
I regret that the movie has largely been forgotten by the contemporary audience. I highly recommend Rikugun Nakano gakko to the modern audience.
The story, script, acting, and the production level excel most of the spy movies of the West. I would even say that it is better than Le Carre's The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.
This movie offers a precious insight into the pre-WWII mindset of the Japanese military. The story took place before WWII takes place in Europe. The Japanese considers the UK and the US to be their adversaries in the coming war, and are in desperate need of deciphering the British diplomatic code.
How the private spy school is organized and staffed with the brightest minds from top university graduates is credible. The main character, Jina, and his beautiful fiance, Yukiko, are both attractive and credible. How the spy school would try to create legends for the spy candidates by hiding their whereabouts is also credible.
The movie deals with pre-digital age espionage when enemy codebooks had to be stolen from consulate safes. The script is intelligent and clear and so is the acting. The storyline moves forward with speed unlike many Asian melodramatic movies. This movie is very Western in its method of dealing with the subject matter.
I regret that the movie has largely been forgotten by the contemporary audience. I highly recommend Rikugun Nakano gakko to the modern audience.