Shiruku hatto no ô-oyabun

Tomisaburo Wakayama plays the Silk Hat Boss, a supporting player in the immensely popular Red Peony Gambler series. As you might expect, the mood is more broadly comic here, as everyone's favorite yazuka boss returns from Japan's military victory over Russia as a bit player in local politics.

An unlikely hero, the Silk Hat Boss pits his life and livelihood to right a series of bloody power ploys. However, Junko Fuji (the Red Peony herself) comes to rescue the boss just in time. The production is less assured, and the writing not altogether solid in parts, but whenever Junko Fuji appears on screen, the film seems to gain a certain energy. Alas, this isn't an altogether successful vehicle, despite strong support from a familiar set of actors.