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High and Low (1963)
Tengoku to jigoku (original title)

143 min  -  Crime | Drama | Thriller   -  26 November 1963 (USA)
8.3
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Ratings: 8.3/10 from 9,476 users  
Reviews: 63 user | 69 critic

An executive of a shoe company becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped and held for ransom.

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Hideo Oguni (screenplay), Ryûzô Kikushima (screenplay), and 3 more credits »
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3 wins & 3 nominations See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Toshirô Mifune ...
Tatsuya Nakadai ...
Kyôko Kagawa Kyôko Kagawa ...
Reiko Gondo
Tatsuya Mihashi Tatsuya Mihashi ...
Kawanishi - Gondo's Secretary
Isao Kimura Isao Kimura ...
Detective Arai
Kenjirô Ishiyama Kenjirô Ishiyama ...
Chief Detective 'Bos'n' Taguchi
Takeshi Katô Takeshi Katô ...
Detective Nakao
Takashi Shimura ...
Jun Tazaki Jun Tazaki ...
Kamiya, National Shoes Publicity Director
Nobuo Nakamura Nobuo Nakamura ...
Ishimaru, National Shoes Design Department Director
Yûnosuke Itô Yûnosuke Itô ...
Baba - National Shoes Executive
Tsutomu Yamazaki Tsutomu Yamazaki ...
Ginjirô Takeuchi - Medical Intern
Minoru Chiaki Minoru Chiaki ...
First Reporter
Eijirô Tôno Eijirô Tôno ...
Factory Worker
Masao Shimizu Masao Shimizu ...
Prison Warden
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Storyline

An executive mortgages all he owns to stage a coup and gain control of the National Shoe Company, with the intent of keeping the company out of the hands of incompetent and greedy executives. He needs the same money, though, to pay the ransom that will possibly save a child's life. His resolution of that dilemma -- the certain loss of the company vs. the probable loss of the child -- makes for one distinct drama, and an ensuing elaborate police procedure makes for a second. Written by levin <levin@world.std.com>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Ransom | Shoe | Chauffeur | Police | Suicide Attempt  | See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Anatomia di un rapimento See more »

Filming Locations:

Enoshima, Kanagawa, Japan See more »

Box Office

Gross:

ITL 12,800,000 (Italy) (1967)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

USA:

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White  | Color (Eastmancolor) (inserts only)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The last section of the movie originally had a great deal of dialogue, but Akira Kurosawa decided to omit all of it. See more »

Quotes

Kingo Gondo: Why should you and I hate each other?
Ginjirô Takeuchi, medical intern: I don't know. I'm not interested in self-analysis. I do know my room was so cold in winter and so hot in summer I couldn't sleep. Your house looked like heaven, high up there. That's how I began to hate you.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Magic Begins"
(uncredited)
Performed by Yumi Shirakawa See more »