The Last Gunfight (1960)

Japanese police detective Saburo Fujioka is suspected of corruption, demoted, and sent to the city of Kojin. Kojin is the scene of fierce fighting between rival gangs. Fujioka is assigned ... See full summary »

Director:

Kihachi Okamoto

Writers:

Shin'ichi Sekizawa, Haruhiko Ôyabu (story)

Stars:

Toshirô Mifune, Kôji Tsuruta, Yôko Tsukasa

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Toshirô Mifune	...	Detective Saburo Fujioka
Kôji Tsuruta	...	Tetsuo Maruyama
Yôko Tsukasa	...	Sally
Seizaburô Kawazu	...	Kyuzaburo Oka
Tadao Nakamaru	...	Shibata
Sachio Sakai	...	Ofudokichi
Jirô Makino	...	Tanba
Kôji Iwamoto	...	Tomita
Keiko Muramatsu	...	Benichyo, Shibata's lover
Jun Tazaki	...	Otokichi Kozuka
Makoto Satô	...	Yata
Yutaka Nakayama	...	Tako
Akihiko Hirata	...	Susumu Tendo, the killer
Hideyo Amamoto	...	Ichino
Akira Wakamatsu	...	Nikawa

Storyline

Japanese police detective Saburo Fujioka is suspected of corruption, demoted, and sent to the city of Kojin. Kojin is the scene of fierce fighting between rival gangs. Fujioka is assigned to investigate the death of the wife of gangster Tetsuo Maruyama of the Kozuka gang, probably at the hands of one of the Oka gang. During a gang gunfight, Maruyama is rescued by Detective Fujioka and the two become friends. But Maruyama insists on avenging his wife's murder, even if it means conflict with his new friend.

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Plot Keywords:

police shootout | cop | yakuza | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

3 January 1960 (Japan)

Also Known As:

The Last Gunfight

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 5 (1998)

User Reviews

Tremendous Japanese crime movie.

I am a big Japanese Yakuza films lover, although not being a great specialist. I only love this kind of features. But that's the first time I see a crime film from the Rising Sun country starring Toshiro Mifune and Koji Tsuruta. I would have imagined Takakura Ken, Bunta Sugawara, Noburu Ando or Tetsua Watari as well...This film would have pleased to Jean-Pierre Melville. I mean the scheme: a manhood friendship between a cop and a gangster, played here by Tsuruta Koji. But, of course, Melville would have made such a movie in a different way, without humor touch, I mean. I am also surprised that such an early sixties film was shot in color. I have always been fond of Tsuruta. Here,his character is very interesting. But this crime film is definitely not a pure Yakuza one, although you have gangsters. Actually, it looks like a western topic set in a modern Japanese crime feature atmosphere. The untouchable vet cop - or sheriff - and the good gangster - outlaw - seeking revenge for the murder of his wife. You'll also here a film noir influence, with night clubs and cabaret songs sequences. And a brutal shooting scene takes place in a western scenery bar. So, to summarize, a predictable movie, but not so much if you compare to many other Japanese films from this period.