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IMDbPro

The Yakuza

  • 19741974
  • RR
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
9K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
11,965
984
The Yakuza (1974)
American private-eye Harry Kilmer returns to Japan to rescue a friend's kidnapped daughter from the clutches of the Yakuza.
Play trailer3:00
1 Video
64 Photos
ActionCrimeDrama
American private-eye Harry Kilmer returns to Japan to rescue a friend's kidnapped daughter from the clutches of the Yakuza.American private-eye Harry Kilmer returns to Japan to rescue a friend's kidnapped daughter from the clutches of the Yakuza.American private-eye Harry Kilmer returns to Japan to rescue a friend's kidnapped daughter from the clutches of the Yakuza.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
9K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
11,965
984
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • Paul Schrader(screenplay)
      • Robert Towne(screenplay)
      • Leonard Schrader(story)
    • Stars
      • Robert Mitchum
      • Ken Takakura
      • Brian Keith
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • Paul Schrader(screenplay)
      • Robert Towne(screenplay)
      • Leonard Schrader(story)
    • Stars
      • Robert Mitchum
      • Ken Takakura
      • Brian Keith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 68User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:00
    Official Trailer

    Photos64

    The Yakuza (1974)
    The Yakuza (1974)
    Kyôsuke Machida in The Yakuza (1974)
    Eiji Gô in The Yakuza (1974)
    Eiji Gô in The Yakuza (1974)
    Christina Kokubo in The Yakuza (1974)
    Richard Jordan in The Yakuza (1974)
    Keiko Kishi in The Yakuza (1974)
    James Shigeta in The Yakuza (1974)
    Robert Mitchum and Keiko Kishi in The Yakuza (1974)
    Ken Takakura in The Yakuza (1974)
    Lee Chirillo in The Yakuza (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Mitchum
    Robert Mitchum
    • Harry Kilmer
    Ken Takakura
    Ken Takakura
    • Tanaka Ken
    Brian Keith
    Brian Keith
    • George Tanner
    Herb Edelman
    Herb Edelman
    • Wheat
    Richard Jordan
    Richard Jordan
    • Dusty
    Keiko Kishi
    Keiko Kishi
    • Eiko
    • (as Kishi Keiko)
    Eiji Okada
    Eiji Okada
    • Tono
    • (as Okada Eiji)
    James Shigeta
    James Shigeta
    • Goro
    Kyôsuke Machida
    Kyôsuke Machida
    • Kato
    Christina Kokubo
    Christina Kokubo
    • Hanako
    Eiji Gô
    Eiji Gô
    • Spider
    • (as Go Eiji)
    Lee Chirillo
    • Louise
    M. Hisaka
    • Boyfriend
    William Ross
    • Tanner's Guard
    Akiyama
    • Tono's Guard
    Harada
    • Goro's Doorman
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • Paul Schrader(screenplay)
      • Robert Towne(screenplay)
      • Leonard Schrader(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Martin Scorsese wanted to direct after Mean Streets (1973) but the producers wanted Sydney Pollack. Scorsese has gone on record that he would very much have liked to direct the film and was disappointed that he was passed over. However, he got to direct Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) instead after being sought out by Ellen Burstyn. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore ended up making more than 20 times it's budget and won Burstyn an academy award while The Yakuza became a box office bomb.
    • Goofs
      The plane that Kilmer is boarding at the end of the film is a Boeing 707, the one shown taking off in the last scene is a 727.
    • Quotes

      Dusty: American saw cuts on a push stroke, Japanese saw cuts on a pull stroke. When an American cracks up, he opens up the window and shoots up a bunch of strangers. When a Japanese cracks up, he closes the window and kills himself. Everything is in reverse.

    • Alternate versions
      For the Spanish Castilian version all the dialogues were dubbed to Spanish, even the Japanese lines.
    • Connections
      Featured in ...Promises to Keep (1974)
    • Soundtracks
      Only the Wind
      Japanese Lyrics Yû Aku (as Aku Yu)
      Composed by Dave Grusin

    User reviews68

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    A must see for Japanophiles
    Not only is this a good 70's gangster/action flick, it is also one of the few movies about Japan ever produced in the States that does not make too many mistakes about Japanese culture.

    Ken Takakura puts in a great performance which is no surprise since he first became famous in Japan for acting in yakuza (gangster) movies.

    Anyone who has ever tried to understand or explain the concept of "giri" should see this movie!
    helpful•31
    8
    • chris-730
    • Oct 28, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 19, 1975 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Yakuza
    • Filming locations
      • Kyoto, Japan
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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