Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)

Two L.A. cops with opposing views on what is the best way to uphold the law have to work together to bring down the Yakuza, while trying to protect a beautiful woman.

Director:

Mark L. Lester

Writers:

Stephen Glantz, Caliope Brattlestreet

Stars:

Dolph Lundgren, Brandon Lee, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dolph Lundgren	...	Sgt. Chris Kenner
Brandon Lee	...	Johnny Murata
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	Funekei Yoshida
Tia Carrere	...	Minako Okeya
Toshishiro Obata	...	Sato
Philip Tan	...	Tanaka
Rodney Kageyama	...	Eddie
Ernie Lively	...	Detective Nelson
Renee Allman	...	Angel Mueller (as Renee Griffin)
Reid Asato	...	Muto
Takayo Fischer	...	Mama Yamaguchi
Simon Rhee	...	Ito
Vernee Watson	...	Nonnie Russell - Coroner (as Vernee Watson-Johnson)
Lenny Imamura	...	Kickboxer #1
Roger Yuan	...	Kickboxer #2

Storyline

Detective Chris Kenner was orphaned as a child as his father was in the service and was killed and lived in Japan. Now he is on the trail of ruthless Yakuza leader named Yoshido, who helped establish a small Japanese area in Los Angeles and is now running a drug ring disguised as a brewery. However, Kenner must team up with a Japanese-American detective named Johnny Murata, and he also must protect a witness named Minako who would testify against Yoshido. But what Kenner will soon discover that he will be in a lot more than what he bargained for.

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Plot Keywords:

yakuza | detective | japanese american | little tokyo | violence | 

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Taglines:

The deadliest vice-kingpin under the Rising Sun has just come to the City of Angels...where two angels of death are about to make him wish he'd stayed in Japan.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, and for language, sensuality and drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

One earlier uncredited draft of the script was written by Steve Sharon, who had written the Dirty Harry movie "The Dead Pool (1988)."

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Goofs

When Kenner escapes the torturer, he gets into the car shirtless. During the extended car crushing scene that follows, he somehow finds the time to put a shirt on.

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Quotes

Johnny Murata: [after unsuccessfully trying to interrogate a Yakuza suspect] I don't think Bozohead speaks English.

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Alternate Versions

The Finnish cuts include:

• The punishment of the failed bodyguard is shortened; the finger removing is intact, but the stabbing, and the yakuza-boss' yelling (Bring me the head of the blond cop!) is completely deleted.
• The scene in the steam bath has lost some footage; several shots of Kenner (Dolph Lungren) stabbing the fat guy and pushing a hose to his mouth in the pool have been deleted, and the shootings of the nude yakuza-men in slow-motion are no more.
• The scene where Kenner comes to rescue the suicidal woman (Tia Carrere) has lost some neck-snappings, and shootings. The final scenes have lost a lot of material, like Johnny (Brandon Lee) blowing up the guy in the gas barrel, and Kenner shooting thugs with a big machine gun.
• The ultimate showdown between Kenner and the Yakuza boss has been heavily trimmed; all the bloody slashings to Kenner are no more, and a sword has been pushed through the boss's stomach... or rather isn't. NOTE: The Finnish dvd-version (anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1) is the full uncut version, and so is the Finnish video version re-release too (both rated K18).

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Connections

Referenced in Workaholics: Blood Drive (2015)

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Soundtracks

Round and Round
Written and Produced by Kris Kurry
Performed by K.K. Wilde
Courtesy of Platinum Records, Inc.
[plays at the pool party]

User Reviews

What's The Problem?

People seem to be awful hard on this movie. I guess they must not be action fans. I mean, come on, this movie's only purpose is to entertain. And it does its job well. It moves at a very fast pace for its short 79 minutes, has lots of good action, and a good sense of humor. What more could you ask for in an action movie. I don't know about you,but thats all I ask for in a action movie. Its not art and its not supposed to be. 3 out of 4 stars.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Warner Bros [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

23 August 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sgt. K.

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$455,192, 25 August 1991

Gross USA:

$2,275,557

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,275,557

Company Credits

Production Co:

Little Tokyo Productions, Original Pictures, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1