The Professional: Golgo 13 (1983) Golgo 13 (original title)

Director:

Osamu Dezaki

Writers:

Shûkei Nagasaka (screenplay)
Takao Saitô (comic)

Release Date:

23 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

He shoots...he scores...he'll blow you away!

Plot:

The action packed life of the professional assassin Golgo 13 (AKA Duke Togo). This guy makes James Bond look like Maxwell Smart.

Plot Keywords:

Professional Assassin | Assassin | Twin | Mercenary | FBI

Cast

Gregory Snegoff	...	Golgo 13 / Snake (voice: English version) (as Greg Snegoff)
Michael McConnohie	...	Leonard Dawson (voice: English version)
Mike Reynolds	...	Bragan (voice: English version)
Edie Mirman	...	Laura (voice: English version)
Joyce Kurtz	...	Cindy (voice: English version)
Diane Michelle	...	Rita (voice: English version)
Kerrigan Mahan	...	Pablo / Silver (voice: English version)
David Povall	...	Garvin (voice: English version)
Edward Mannix	...	Jefferson (voice: English version) (as Ed Mannix)
Michael Forest	...	Young (voice: English version)
Milton James	...	Albert (voice: English version) (as Milt James)
Steve Kramer	...	Paco (voice: English version)
John Dantona	...	Bishop Moretti (voice: English version)
Jeff Winkless	...	Informant (voice: English version)
Tony Oliver	...	Robert Dawson (voice: English version)
Karlyn Michelson	...	Emily (voice: English version)
Eddie Frierson	...	Gold (voice: English version)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Deke Anderson	...	Thomas
Carlos Ferro	...	Thomas Waltham (voice: English version)
Toshiko Fujita	...	Cindy / Dr. Zed (voice)
Kiyoshi Kobayashi	...	Gen. T. Jefferson (voice)
Reiko Mutô	...	Laura Dawson (voice)
Gorô Naya	...	Leonard Dawson (voice)
Tetsurô Sagawa	...	Golgo 13 (voice)
Kumiko Takizawa	...	Rita (voice)
Kôsei Tomita	...	Lt. Bob Bragen (voice)

Directed by
Osamu Dezaki

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Shûkei Nagasaka		screenplay
Takao Saitô		comic

Produced by
Yutaka Fujioka	....	executive producer
Nobuo Inada	....	producer
Carl Macek	....	english language producer
Mataichirô Yamamoto	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Toshiyuki Ohmori

Cinematography by
Hirokata Takahashi

Film Editing by
Masatoshi Tsurubuchi

Art Direction by
Shichirô Kobayashi

Production Management
Jerry Beck	....	production manager (english version)
Yoichi Ikeda	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Shunji Ôga	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Wataru Date	....	recording director

Visual Effects by
Satomi Mikuriya	....	CG director
Koichi Omura	....	CG executive producer

Animation Department
Atsuko Fukushima	....	key animator
Kôji Morimoto	....	key animator (as Kouji Morimoto)
Shinji Otsuka	....	key animator
Akio Sugino	....	animation director

Music Department
Seiji Suzuki	....	music selection

Production Companies

• Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS)

Distributors

• Toho Company (1983) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Eastern Star (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Streamline Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Manga Entertainment (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• Manga Entertainment (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• United Paramount Network (UPN) (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Toyo Links Corporation  computer graphics production

Also Known As:

"Golgo 13" - Japan (original title)

Runtime:

UK:91 min | USA:95 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:R | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Singapore:(Banned) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:R (Ontario/Nova Scotia/Manitoba)

Company:

Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS)

Trivia:

According to Helen McCarthy, The Professional was based on various Western action films the writers had used for inspiration. Ironically, the film's own influence can be seen in later Western films.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Ford dealership Rita runs in San Francisco displays models (including the modified Ford Laser hatchback Duke Togo uses in his getaway) that were for the European market only. The only exception is the Ford Thunderbird Rita drives to pick up Duke Togo from the airport.

Quotes:

Leonard Dawson:No one says no to Leonard Dawson!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Karnov (2005)

Best Anime Ever.

Since this is now out on DVD, none of you have any excuse for not having seen it. When it comes to assassins, Golgo 13 is the man. Period. (He's not too shabby with the ladies either.) After completing one of his jobs, a hit on a powerful and very connected businessman's son, he becomes the target for revenge. Killing Golgo 13, though, is no easy task at all. The story here is solid, with some great moments (like the ending), cool sub-plots, twisted characters, and plenty of bloody action. The execution of this classic (1983) anime is, in a word, stylish. Freeze frames, split screens, and other such techniques are prevalent throughout. There's also a noirish feel to much of the film, often accompanied by soft, bluesy-type music. Of course, being made so many years ago, much of it seems dated (especially the very early CGI helicopters) but for me, it's a minor complaint…the movie still rocks hard. Check it out. Now. (If you don't have a proper audio system, I recommend changing the track on the DVD to mono to avoid a tinny echo sound on the voices.)