Joshuu 701-gô: Sasori (1972)

After being cruelly set up and deceived by Sugimi (Natsuyagi Isao), a conniving and crooked detective she had whole-heartedly fallen in love with (and subsequently lost her virginity to...)... See full summary »

Director:

Shunya Ito

Writers:

Fumio Kônami, Hirô Matsuda,

Stars:

Meiko Kaji, Rie Yokoyama, Yayoi Watanabe

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meiko Kaji	...	Nami Matsushima (aka Matsu the Scorpion)
Rie Yokoyama	...	Katagiri
Yayoi Watanabe	...	Yukiko Kida
Yôko Mihara	...	Masaki
Akemi Negishi	...	Otsuka
Keiko Kuni	...	Nemoto
Yumiko Katayama	...	Kito
Emi Jo	...	Morikawa (as Emi Jô)
Sue Mitobe	...	Imune
Chie Kobayashi	...	Dobashi
Rie Yuki	...	Tatsuno
Hideo Murota	...	Okizaki
Saburô Date	...	Kaizutoshi
Shinzo Hotta	...	Furuya
Yôichi Numata	...	Soga

Storyline

After being cruelly set up and deceived by Sugimi (Natsuyagi Isao), a conniving and crooked detective she had whole-heartedly fallen in love with (and subsequently lost her virginity to...), Matsushima Nami's desire for revenge knows no bounds. Her failed attempt at stabbing Sugimi on the steps of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters results in her doing hard time in a female prison run by sadistic and horny male guards. To Sugimi's surprise, Matsushima refuses to testify against him and his connections to the mob, and now the sheer fact that she knows such secrets makes her a liability. So Sugimi and the Japanese mafia orchestrate a plan whereby Matsushima will succumb to an "accidental" death in prison. They enlist the help of Kagiri, another female inmate with ties to both Sugimi and the mafia, thus their formidable plan is quickly set in motion. Little do they realize, however, how hotly Matsushima's desire for revenge burns within her.

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Plot Keywords:

mafia | revenge | prison | guard | love | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | Crime

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

25 August 1972 (Japan)

Also Known As:

A 701-es nöi rab: Skorpió

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toei Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Nami Matsushima: To be deceived is a woman's crime.

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Connections

Remade as Sasori (2008)

User Reviews

Awesome Japanese exploitation flick

Violent, sick, cruel, and completely sadistic – what more could I ask for? Starring Meiko Kaji, who would go on to the Lady Snowblood films the next year, this women in prison movie simply dazzles. Ito's direction is fantastic, and in some ways resembles that of Suzuki Seijun. It's funny that such great filmmaking is found in a w.i.p. movie, a sub-genre usually reserved for sloppy, direct-to-video work today. Just think, a direct-to-video movie really could be well made. There is an unfulfilled market here. Yet people just keep cranking out the same cliched garbage – an utter waste. The genre in America is too tame when you look at FP701. Actually, I'd almost say that this comes close to being the best prison movie ever made, approaching masterpieces like Don Siegel's undervalued Riot in Cell-Block 11 and Stuart Rosenberg's beloved Cool Hand Luke. Hell, Prisoner 701 makes Cool Hand Luke look like a total pussy. This movie is an absolute must-see for those who love Japanese films, exploitation, or cult movies in general. I'd go so far as to call it a masterpiece in its own way. I loved every damn second of it! 10/10.