Keisatsukan (1933)

Itami, a young policeman, meets his high school friend, Tetsuo, a gangster, at a roadblock. As they rekindled their friendship, a complex relationship is established between them.

Director:

Tomu Uchida

Writers:

Toshihiko Takeda (story), Eizo Yamauchi

Stars:

Eiji Nakano, Isamu Kosugi, Taisuke Matsumoto

Cast

Cast overview:
Eiji Nakano	...	Tetsuo Tomioka
Isamu Kosugi	...	Itami - a police officer
Taisuke Matsumoto	...	Miyabe Keikan
Sôji Ubukata	...	Police officer Hashimoto (as Ippei Ubukata)
Shinobu Araki	...	Chief of police Oshima
Kenji Asada	...	Judiciary chief
Shizuko Mori	...	Tazuko
Tamako Katsura	...	Emiko
Isao Kitaoka	...	Younger brother Shinichi
Matsuko Miho	...	Mother Tamiko (as Atsumi Miho)
Hirotoshi Murata	...	Yamamura (as Kôju Murata)

Storyline

Itami, a young policeman, meets his high school friend, Tetsuo, a gangster, at a roadblock. As they rekindled their friendship, a complex relationship is established between them.

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Plot Keywords:

japanese noir | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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User Reviews

Silent, languid but gripping film noir from Japan

There is a certain pace to Japanese cinema that doesn't seem to have changed much over the last 70 years. From Ozu's reflections on social interaction to Takeshi Kitano's ultra violent Yazuza movies, there is a deliberate development of plot that is designed to show the thoughtfulness of the characters and their quiet reflection on the world around them. This informs the plot of this movie also. At an hour and three quarters the film could easily be shaved of twenty minutes of its running time in order to compete with its contemporaries. As a film noir, the casting, plot and cinematography are nearly flawless. The film begins with a policeman stopping and searching a car on the way into the city during a large search for an escaped gangster. He recognises an old school friend and they arrange to meet up. From this innocuous beginning, the investigation leads to wounding, murder and betrayal as the cop wrestles with his conscience and duty to his profession. Treading some of the same ground as Carol Reed's masterpiece The Third Man, this is an intriguing example of late Asian silent film-making (a part of the world that adopted sound much later) and is worth watching for the great photography and evocative locations - a world where neon lights and automobiles contrast with the fragile homes and traditional dress of older Japanese culture. Perhaps with a carefully chosen Jazz accompaniment the film would unfold better, but when seen with an unimaginative soundtrack, the pace is soporific rather than engaging. However as an historical document for anyone interested in the development of Japanese cinema, it is unmissible.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

None

Release Date:

30 November 1933 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Policeman

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shinko

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White