Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)

Two cops 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:

One's a warrior. One's a wise guy. They're two L.A. cops going after a gang of drug lords. Feet first.

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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

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:

$649,809, 25 August 1991, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Uncredited rewrite by Gary DeVore.

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Goofs

When Kenner and Murata jump onto the back of the Red Dragon truck the driver turns his head to the right to see who it is, then when the camera cuts into the truck he turns his head again to the right.

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Quotes

Johnny Murata: Ya know, it's kinda like one of those video games... you just defeated the first wave.
Chris Kenner: Do you know you have moments when you're truly an asshole?

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Alternate Versions

US version rated 'R' (released in vhs, laserdisc, and dvd in the US) is cut (totalling 13 seconds) as follows:

• The party in the pool lost a shot of an Oriental man walking with a topless woman
• Several shots of Yoshida caressing Angel before choping her head are deleted
• The exact chopping of Angel's head is shown in two different angles, but only one in the R version.
• When the coroner opens the body bag, in the unrated version we get to enjoy two shots completely of Angel's seperated head, but the R has only one intact.
• When Kenner stabs the fat guy under water, one brief shot of Kenner twisting the knife in the stomach while blood pours out, is removed. The cut FI-version is based on the full, unrated uncut version, so it features almost all material cut from it!

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Connections

Referenced in Workaholics: Wolves of Rancho (2016)

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Soundtracks

The Woman in Me
Written and Produced by Walter "Kandor" Khan
Performed by Natalie
Courtesy of Sunshine Entertainment and Scully Music Co.

User Reviews

Another stalwart effort from the director of Commando

Surely the rating should be higher? This is one of the better Dolph Lundgren-takes-on-all-comers movies, and its got Brandon Lee godamnit!

Ok, so it gets predictable, but isnt that why action movies are so well loved? Its got enough of a storyline not to resemble Red Scorpion in any way, but only just little enough to make it a totally enjoyable flick. I mean, for 1991, what were you expecting? Considering that this was the director who brought us Commando, this is the ultimate in bloke films. If you want to clear the women away, put either one of these films on and enjoy a mens night in!

So its not Minority Report, its not The Shawshank Redemption but its redemption at its best, feet first!

Oh, and Tia Carrare in a hot tub. Gets it at least one point. ;)