The Toei Pinky Violence thread
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
I recently rewatched a whole bunch of Pinky Violence. Anyone who's been reading the other thread has already seen these, but I thought might put the new mini-reviews here as well.
Girl Boss Blues: Queen Bee's Counterattack (Japan, 1971) [DVD] - 3/5
The first film in the series. This was a bit of a turning point for girl gang films, which had started out light and breezy (Stray Cat Rock, and Delinquent Girl Boss). From here on they would get darker little by little as they'd go down the same path with male yakuza films. A new generation of meaner, sexier and dirtier girls lead by Reiko Ike (still underage here) and Miki Sugimoto would take over the screens from the previous generation (here represented by Yukie Kagawa, who gets her ass kicked by Ike). For these girls survival mattered more than honour. This film contains a whole bunch of iconic genre scenes like malfunctioning clothes in girl fights that would be later seen in countless other films, as well as some unique ideas like the "sex on motorcycle" competition . Yet, the film is uneven. It still includes large doses of silly comedy and a frustratingly strong focus on male supporting characters - both influences of the 60s yakuza films. It seems the filmmakers were not yet entirely confident with the girl gang formula - something that would change soon enough.
Girl Boss Blues: Queen Bee's Challenge (Japan, 1972) [DVD] - 3/5
The second film in the series, with (the still underage) Reiko Ike continuing in the lead. Although the film lacks memorable scenes, it’s well made, with good looking visuals, decent characters and a milieu that feels surprisingly real despite some outlandish elements. There are also some quite funny scenes with the girls cheating horny men out of their money. The tone is still relatively light despite the genre already reaching towards the nihilism that would begin to dominate many Pinky Violence films from mid-1972. There are, however, a couple of harsh torture scenes, of which evil sister Chiyoko Kazama sticking shaken Coca Cola bottles to Sugimoto’s you-know-where leaves a bit of a nasty aftertaste. Tatsuo Umemiya makes a cameo as the “Delinquent Boss”, a character he played in his own film series that ran 17 instalments. Miki Sugimoto has a small supporting role again: she was playing second fiddle to Ike in all her early roles until Onsen Suppon Geisha (1972).
Girl Boss Guerilla (Japan, 1972) [DVD] – 3.5/5
Reiko Ike announced her retirement from film biz in 1972, which lead to Miki Sugimoto being cast in leading roles in this film and Onsen Suppon Geisha a month before. Ike's decision didn’t last more than a month or two, and she was back in time to land a “quest star” role in this film. Some say Ike regretted her decision when she saw Sugimoto crowned as the new queen of Toei Porno (yep, that’s how they were known back then). In any case, this film started Ike and Sugimoto’s silver screen rivalry. From here on Toei would often cast one of them as the heroine and the other as (friendly) nemesis. The film is one of the better ones in the series, a breezy biker girl flick shot in and around the beautiful Kyoto. There’s quite a bit of comedy, most of it funny, as well as some sadistic beatings. A better plot would have improved the film, which, it its current state, barely has any. Worth mentioning is the film has the best topless scenes in the series: these girls walk around with their tattooed breasts out if they feel like it cause they just don’t give a damn.
Girl Boss: Revenge (Japan, 1973) [DVD] – 2.5/5
The 4th and weakest entry in the series. Despite the usual genre charm, this one suffers from suffocating sexism that leaves a nasty aftertaste. Now, someone might point out that hasn't the genre always dwelled in gratuitous exploitation of the female beauty? Of course it has, that why they are called exploitation movies. What makes the difference, however, is how women are portrayed within that context: as weak, disposable pieces of meat, or as bare-breasted amazons kicking ass. This film too often falls to the former category, as best evidenced by the scene where Ike and Sugimoto’s brawl is brought to an end by the former’s boyfriend who slaps Sugimoto in the face and drags Ike into the car. So much about strong women. Throughout the film women are constantly slapped, beaten and raped by the wimpiest of yakuza because, apparently, the gender is at fault. This approach is not only unfortunate but also very anti-climatic. See the 7th film in the series for a prime example of exploitation, with just as much nudity and even all the rapes, done with a genuine sense of female empowerment and ass kicking.
Girl Boss: Escape from Reform School (Japan, 1973) [DVD] – 3.5/5
Sadao Nakajima took over the directorial duties here, which was probably for the best as Norifumi Suzuki seemed to be running out of steam with the series. This is one of the best films in the series; a fast moving entry with only cool girls and not much in terms of frustrating comic reliefs. It's also a stylish one with solid cinematography, some cool action and a badass score that is played on repeat. As the title suggests, Sugimoto and her pals escape from a reform school, which gives the film a slightly road movie kind of structure. Ike also hooks up with small time goon and relatively nice guy Tsunehiko Watase. The nasty sexism of the previous entry is thankfully absent here. However, there is something that keeps the film just short of excellence. It's well made and entertaining, but ultimately not quite as catchy, stylish and anarchic as the very best pinky violence films.
Girl Boss: Diamond Showdown (Japan, 1974) [DVD] - 3/5
Ikuo Sekimoto helmed the last two films in the series. This one, the 6th film in the series, plays it safe. Reiko Ike is a delinquent girl who once stabbed a gangster boss (Toru Abe) and is now being released from reform school. She’s soon back to her old habits. It’s an entertaining enough, but forgettable entry in the series. Occasional sadistic violence is mixed with comedy, and the soundtrack includes songs like “Funky Monkey Baby”. Bad girl Ryoko Ema, who gets a bit more characterization here than usual, seems to be wearing the same dress that Ike had in Lynch Law Classroom. Tsunehiko Watase plays a cool gangster always wearing sunglasses. This was the last film in the series with the original cast; neither Ike nor Sugimoto (absent here as well) returned for the final entry.
Girl Boss: Crazy Ball Game (Japan, 1974) [DVD] – 3.5/5
The final film in the series, done without its original stars Ike and Sugimoto, is perhaps the best. Yuko Kano is the new sukeban and although she was not a star of Ike or Sugimoto's calibre, she still owns the film. She’s got enough looks and attitude to convince and charm. It’s also a well made film with an energetic supporting cast, a groovy score, and a fast-paced script largely void of silly comic reliefs. The film is also enjoyably pro-women within its exploitation context: girls kick ass, nudity is often cheerful (wait for the ridiculous and awesome topless beach scene) and rapes only happen when the girls are outnumbered by yakuza gorillas, rather than women being at the mercy of any male by default. Any wrong doings are of course brutally avenged in the over the top final massacre that might have felt out of place in a more realistic entry, but was a perfect way to retire this series.
Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom (Japan, 1972) [DVD] - 3.5/5
A surprisingly mean spirited first film in the series with Miki Sugimoto as a nasty school gang leader. This film was remarkable not so much for being a side product of the Girl Boss series, but for being one of the movies that brought the Pinky Violence genre to darker grounds in 1972. Although the film is not terribly graphic, it is genuinely disturbing, not least because the heroine herself is a ruthless bully. A naive new male teacher tries to calm this down, but his attempts are futile with students greeting new teachers with knives and dead cats. The audience has to wait a good while for supporting star Reiko Ike to appear to find anyone to side with. Over-the-top action scenes are mostly missing, except for an iconic scene with two small school girl armies facing each other. The film also ends with one of the genre's defining moments as the girls burn their school uniforms at the school gate. Occasional silly humour does little to soften things; in fact it only makes the film feel dirtier. Masao Yagi's groovy score, on the other hand, ups the kick-ass factor.
Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 4/5
One of the finest films in the Pinky Violence genre, an anarchic, supremely stylish, erotic-grotesque end-of-the-world high school film. It is also, for its over-the-top nature, an easier movie to stomach than the first film in the series. Miki Sugimoto and her three pals (all brought into the film with ultra-cool introduction scenes) are bad girls coming to a new school to find who murdered Sugimoto's former gang boss. Turns out Ryoko Ema's gang is responsible; they've set up a torture lab in a classroom where they are draining poor victims out of their blood. The film's ending, where the entire school is demolished by the rioting students, is a dream come true to anyone who's ever felt frustration towards the educational system. However, the finest proof of director Norifumi Suzuki's talent is that he manages a handful of genuinely touching and beautiful scenes in the midst of all the chaos.
Terrifying Girls' High School: Delinquent Convulsion Group (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 2.5/5
The 3rd film in the series is a letdown after the supremely anarchic Lynch Law Classroom. This film doesn't really know what it wants to be. There's a bit of serious mother-daughter drama with Reiko Ike and Yoko Mihara, silly perverted high school teachers, the usual sukeban fights between rival gangs, and as a new addition, lots of gaijin raping high school girls. It all works alright as modest exploitation entertainment, but none of it packs too much punch. Director Masahiro Shimura seems to be to blame. He took over the directorial duties from Norifumi Suzuki for this and the following film, which remain his only directorial efforts. He also worked for Toei as an assistant director and contributing screenwriter. As a director he lacked the style, energy and kick ass factor that Suzuki was able to vent into the first two films.
Terrifying Girls' High School: Animal Courage (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 2/5
The last and the least in the series. This one is a notch more realistic than some of the earlier films in the series, but in Masahiro Shimura's direction that only translates to increased dullness. The film lacks both the groove and the nastiness of the first two films, and adds very little of its own. Reiko Ike is a new student who enters a school where two girl gangs are fighting while the corrupt management enjoys exploiting the students. Old stuff. Minor genre charm aside, probably the most enjoyable thing about the movie is comedic relief Akira Oizumi as a horny English teacher. Oh, and Ryoko Ema is basically a good (bad) girl here for once. I guess that counts for something. The ending is rather good as well, but that comes too late and offers too little.
Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 4.5/5
This is the most feminist of all the Pinky Violence films, in addition to being one of the best. Reiko Ike is the daughter of a murdered man, sent to prison after she fails to kill the yakuza boss responsible. She makes friends with a miscellaneous bunch of girls (each given the coolest introduction scenes since Lynch Law Classroom) who team up with her after they're out of the slammer. It's a relatively simple story told with impeccable style, superb pacing, functional plot and likeable characters. Especially notable is how the heroines are handled by the filmmakers with worshipping rather than sleazy hands. That's not saying the film is lacking it in the nudity and sex department, even featuring the infamous chainsaw intimidation scene and the longest girl fight ever filmed (with malfunctioning garments, of course). However, the approach is quite different compared to some other films in the genre. These women are goddesses, and the sleazy guys are doomed from the start. The men ain't got nothing on these girls.
Sex & Fury (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 4/5
Most foreign viewers fail to put this film into a context. As much as a Pinky Violence film, it was also a late descendant of Toei's 60s gambler/yakuza movies. Once a hugely popular genre, Toei was still trying to keep it alive in the early 70s. After their biggest female star Junko Fuji retired, Toei tried finding a substitute. All attempts failed, and each new female yakuza film came out sleazier than the previous. Sex & Fury was the film that essentially burned all the bridges as it wholeheartedly crossed to the exploitation side. No more straight female gamblers were to come. Reiko Ike stars as a female yakuza on a mission of vengeance, while Christina Lindberg (drafted by Toei during a flight from Paris to Stockholm!) is a British (!) spy whose boss is trying to start an opium war in Japan. The storyline is messy with political aspects that director Norifumi Suzuki has no patience to develop; however, the film is visually stunning. Nowhere is that better evidenced than in the scene where Ike, attacked by enemies while taking bath, takes out the whole gang with a sword while in the nude in a snowy garden. The hypnotically choreographed carnage makes that one of the greatest scenes in exploitation film history.
Female Yakuza Tale (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 3.5/5
Fun but hastily made sequel to Sex and Fury. Teruo Ishii directed the film, but it seems he didn't have much of a script to work with - more like a plot draft written in a hurry. There's a lot of incoherent nonsense between the opening and ending scenes. Ishii makes up for it with colourful images, a plot that revolves around a yakuza gang using girls who smuggle drugs in their vaginas, and a number of fantastic set pieces including the apocalyptic final massacre with two dozen naked ladies slaying yakuza with swords, nails, guns and hand grenades. There's a certain charm to seeing trash like this done with relatively amazing production values, something that would never happen in modern cinema.
Girl Boss Blues: Queen Bee's Counterattack (Japan, 1971) [DVD] - 3/5
The first film in the series. This was a bit of a turning point for girl gang films, which had started out light and breezy (Stray Cat Rock, and Delinquent Girl Boss). From here on they would get darker little by little as they'd go down the same path with male yakuza films. A new generation of meaner, sexier and dirtier girls lead by Reiko Ike (still underage here) and Miki Sugimoto would take over the screens from the previous generation (here represented by Yukie Kagawa, who gets her ass kicked by Ike). For these girls survival mattered more than honour. This film contains a whole bunch of iconic genre scenes like malfunctioning clothes in girl fights that would be later seen in countless other films, as well as some unique ideas like the "sex on motorcycle" competition . Yet, the film is uneven. It still includes large doses of silly comedy and a frustratingly strong focus on male supporting characters - both influences of the 60s yakuza films. It seems the filmmakers were not yet entirely confident with the girl gang formula - something that would change soon enough.
Girl Boss Blues: Queen Bee's Challenge (Japan, 1972) [DVD] - 3/5
The second film in the series, with (the still underage) Reiko Ike continuing in the lead. Although the film lacks memorable scenes, it’s well made, with good looking visuals, decent characters and a milieu that feels surprisingly real despite some outlandish elements. There are also some quite funny scenes with the girls cheating horny men out of their money. The tone is still relatively light despite the genre already reaching towards the nihilism that would begin to dominate many Pinky Violence films from mid-1972. There are, however, a couple of harsh torture scenes, of which evil sister Chiyoko Kazama sticking shaken Coca Cola bottles to Sugimoto’s you-know-where leaves a bit of a nasty aftertaste. Tatsuo Umemiya makes a cameo as the “Delinquent Boss”, a character he played in his own film series that ran 17 instalments. Miki Sugimoto has a small supporting role again: she was playing second fiddle to Ike in all her early roles until Onsen Suppon Geisha (1972).
Girl Boss Guerilla (Japan, 1972) [DVD] – 3.5/5
Reiko Ike announced her retirement from film biz in 1972, which lead to Miki Sugimoto being cast in leading roles in this film and Onsen Suppon Geisha a month before. Ike's decision didn’t last more than a month or two, and she was back in time to land a “quest star” role in this film. Some say Ike regretted her decision when she saw Sugimoto crowned as the new queen of Toei Porno (yep, that’s how they were known back then). In any case, this film started Ike and Sugimoto’s silver screen rivalry. From here on Toei would often cast one of them as the heroine and the other as (friendly) nemesis. The film is one of the better ones in the series, a breezy biker girl flick shot in and around the beautiful Kyoto. There’s quite a bit of comedy, most of it funny, as well as some sadistic beatings. A better plot would have improved the film, which, it its current state, barely has any. Worth mentioning is the film has the best topless scenes in the series: these girls walk around with their tattooed breasts out if they feel like it cause they just don’t give a damn.
Girl Boss: Revenge (Japan, 1973) [DVD] – 2.5/5
The 4th and weakest entry in the series. Despite the usual genre charm, this one suffers from suffocating sexism that leaves a nasty aftertaste. Now, someone might point out that hasn't the genre always dwelled in gratuitous exploitation of the female beauty? Of course it has, that why they are called exploitation movies. What makes the difference, however, is how women are portrayed within that context: as weak, disposable pieces of meat, or as bare-breasted amazons kicking ass. This film too often falls to the former category, as best evidenced by the scene where Ike and Sugimoto’s brawl is brought to an end by the former’s boyfriend who slaps Sugimoto in the face and drags Ike into the car. So much about strong women. Throughout the film women are constantly slapped, beaten and raped by the wimpiest of yakuza because, apparently, the gender is at fault. This approach is not only unfortunate but also very anti-climatic. See the 7th film in the series for a prime example of exploitation, with just as much nudity and even all the rapes, done with a genuine sense of female empowerment and ass kicking.
Girl Boss: Escape from Reform School (Japan, 1973) [DVD] – 3.5/5
Sadao Nakajima took over the directorial duties here, which was probably for the best as Norifumi Suzuki seemed to be running out of steam with the series. This is one of the best films in the series; a fast moving entry with only cool girls and not much in terms of frustrating comic reliefs. It's also a stylish one with solid cinematography, some cool action and a badass score that is played on repeat. As the title suggests, Sugimoto and her pals escape from a reform school, which gives the film a slightly road movie kind of structure. Ike also hooks up with small time goon and relatively nice guy Tsunehiko Watase. The nasty sexism of the previous entry is thankfully absent here. However, there is something that keeps the film just short of excellence. It's well made and entertaining, but ultimately not quite as catchy, stylish and anarchic as the very best pinky violence films.
Girl Boss: Diamond Showdown (Japan, 1974) [DVD] - 3/5
Ikuo Sekimoto helmed the last two films in the series. This one, the 6th film in the series, plays it safe. Reiko Ike is a delinquent girl who once stabbed a gangster boss (Toru Abe) and is now being released from reform school. She’s soon back to her old habits. It’s an entertaining enough, but forgettable entry in the series. Occasional sadistic violence is mixed with comedy, and the soundtrack includes songs like “Funky Monkey Baby”. Bad girl Ryoko Ema, who gets a bit more characterization here than usual, seems to be wearing the same dress that Ike had in Lynch Law Classroom. Tsunehiko Watase plays a cool gangster always wearing sunglasses. This was the last film in the series with the original cast; neither Ike nor Sugimoto (absent here as well) returned for the final entry.
Girl Boss: Crazy Ball Game (Japan, 1974) [DVD] – 3.5/5
The final film in the series, done without its original stars Ike and Sugimoto, is perhaps the best. Yuko Kano is the new sukeban and although she was not a star of Ike or Sugimoto's calibre, she still owns the film. She’s got enough looks and attitude to convince and charm. It’s also a well made film with an energetic supporting cast, a groovy score, and a fast-paced script largely void of silly comic reliefs. The film is also enjoyably pro-women within its exploitation context: girls kick ass, nudity is often cheerful (wait for the ridiculous and awesome topless beach scene) and rapes only happen when the girls are outnumbered by yakuza gorillas, rather than women being at the mercy of any male by default. Any wrong doings are of course brutally avenged in the over the top final massacre that might have felt out of place in a more realistic entry, but was a perfect way to retire this series.
Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom (Japan, 1972) [DVD] - 3.5/5
A surprisingly mean spirited first film in the series with Miki Sugimoto as a nasty school gang leader. This film was remarkable not so much for being a side product of the Girl Boss series, but for being one of the movies that brought the Pinky Violence genre to darker grounds in 1972. Although the film is not terribly graphic, it is genuinely disturbing, not least because the heroine herself is a ruthless bully. A naive new male teacher tries to calm this down, but his attempts are futile with students greeting new teachers with knives and dead cats. The audience has to wait a good while for supporting star Reiko Ike to appear to find anyone to side with. Over-the-top action scenes are mostly missing, except for an iconic scene with two small school girl armies facing each other. The film also ends with one of the genre's defining moments as the girls burn their school uniforms at the school gate. Occasional silly humour does little to soften things; in fact it only makes the film feel dirtier. Masao Yagi's groovy score, on the other hand, ups the kick-ass factor.
Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 4/5
One of the finest films in the Pinky Violence genre, an anarchic, supremely stylish, erotic-grotesque end-of-the-world high school film. It is also, for its over-the-top nature, an easier movie to stomach than the first film in the series. Miki Sugimoto and her three pals (all brought into the film with ultra-cool introduction scenes) are bad girls coming to a new school to find who murdered Sugimoto's former gang boss. Turns out Ryoko Ema's gang is responsible; they've set up a torture lab in a classroom where they are draining poor victims out of their blood. The film's ending, where the entire school is demolished by the rioting students, is a dream come true to anyone who's ever felt frustration towards the educational system. However, the finest proof of director Norifumi Suzuki's talent is that he manages a handful of genuinely touching and beautiful scenes in the midst of all the chaos.
Terrifying Girls' High School: Delinquent Convulsion Group (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 2.5/5
The 3rd film in the series is a letdown after the supremely anarchic Lynch Law Classroom. This film doesn't really know what it wants to be. There's a bit of serious mother-daughter drama with Reiko Ike and Yoko Mihara, silly perverted high school teachers, the usual sukeban fights between rival gangs, and as a new addition, lots of gaijin raping high school girls. It all works alright as modest exploitation entertainment, but none of it packs too much punch. Director Masahiro Shimura seems to be to blame. He took over the directorial duties from Norifumi Suzuki for this and the following film, which remain his only directorial efforts. He also worked for Toei as an assistant director and contributing screenwriter. As a director he lacked the style, energy and kick ass factor that Suzuki was able to vent into the first two films.
Terrifying Girls' High School: Animal Courage (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 2/5
The last and the least in the series. This one is a notch more realistic than some of the earlier films in the series, but in Masahiro Shimura's direction that only translates to increased dullness. The film lacks both the groove and the nastiness of the first two films, and adds very little of its own. Reiko Ike is a new student who enters a school where two girl gangs are fighting while the corrupt management enjoys exploiting the students. Old stuff. Minor genre charm aside, probably the most enjoyable thing about the movie is comedic relief Akira Oizumi as a horny English teacher. Oh, and Ryoko Ema is basically a good (bad) girl here for once. I guess that counts for something. The ending is rather good as well, but that comes too late and offers too little.
Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 4.5/5
This is the most feminist of all the Pinky Violence films, in addition to being one of the best. Reiko Ike is the daughter of a murdered man, sent to prison after she fails to kill the yakuza boss responsible. She makes friends with a miscellaneous bunch of girls (each given the coolest introduction scenes since Lynch Law Classroom) who team up with her after they're out of the slammer. It's a relatively simple story told with impeccable style, superb pacing, functional plot and likeable characters. Especially notable is how the heroines are handled by the filmmakers with worshipping rather than sleazy hands. That's not saying the film is lacking it in the nudity and sex department, even featuring the infamous chainsaw intimidation scene and the longest girl fight ever filmed (with malfunctioning garments, of course). However, the approach is quite different compared to some other films in the genre. These women are goddesses, and the sleazy guys are doomed from the start. The men ain't got nothing on these girls.
Sex & Fury (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 4/5
Most foreign viewers fail to put this film into a context. As much as a Pinky Violence film, it was also a late descendant of Toei's 60s gambler/yakuza movies. Once a hugely popular genre, Toei was still trying to keep it alive in the early 70s. After their biggest female star Junko Fuji retired, Toei tried finding a substitute. All attempts failed, and each new female yakuza film came out sleazier than the previous. Sex & Fury was the film that essentially burned all the bridges as it wholeheartedly crossed to the exploitation side. No more straight female gamblers were to come. Reiko Ike stars as a female yakuza on a mission of vengeance, while Christina Lindberg (drafted by Toei during a flight from Paris to Stockholm!) is a British (!) spy whose boss is trying to start an opium war in Japan. The storyline is messy with political aspects that director Norifumi Suzuki has no patience to develop; however, the film is visually stunning. Nowhere is that better evidenced than in the scene where Ike, attacked by enemies while taking bath, takes out the whole gang with a sword while in the nude in a snowy garden. The hypnotically choreographed carnage makes that one of the greatest scenes in exploitation film history.
Female Yakuza Tale (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 3.5/5
Fun but hastily made sequel to Sex and Fury. Teruo Ishii directed the film, but it seems he didn't have much of a script to work with - more like a plot draft written in a hurry. There's a lot of incoherent nonsense between the opening and ending scenes. Ishii makes up for it with colourful images, a plot that revolves around a yakuza gang using girls who smuggle drugs in their vaginas, and a number of fantastic set pieces including the apocalyptic final massacre with two dozen naked ladies slaying yakuza with swords, nails, guns and hand grenades. There's a certain charm to seeing trash like this done with relatively amazing production values, something that would never happen in modern cinema.
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
The long interview with Yuuji Makiguchi published in the Japan Cult Film Collection series' volume on Torn Priestess/Nuns That Bite is a real treasure trove for great behind-the-scenes stories.
Talking about SHOGUN'S SADISM, Makiguchi relays a story about the scene in which the Shogun (played with sadistic glee by Akira Shioji) tortures a woman who is trapped in a glass cage by pouring snakes in with her.
Makiguchi says it was 100 Japanese rat snakes (Elaphe climacophora) and he was wrecking his head trying to figure out where he'd find an actress willing to agree to such a scene. Then producer Tatsuo Honda brought a woman all the way from Tochigi Prefecture who he had seen on TV in a report about people who like snakes. The woman told Makiguchi she keeps 3 or 4 big snakes at home and rolls around with them before bedtime in order to cool down. So he had found a woman who had no problem with the scene but he struggled to get a terrified performance out of her. Apparently most of the time her face looked more aroused than scared. After filming was completed, she actually asked Makiguchi if she could take the snakes back home. He allowed her to keep an "unnoticeable" amount and she selected the ones she thought were the cute ones and went home with a big smile.
Talking about SHOGUN'S SADISM, Makiguchi relays a story about the scene in which the Shogun (played with sadistic glee by Akira Shioji) tortures a woman who is trapped in a glass cage by pouring snakes in with her.
Makiguchi says it was 100 Japanese rat snakes (Elaphe climacophora) and he was wrecking his head trying to figure out where he'd find an actress willing to agree to such a scene. Then producer Tatsuo Honda brought a woman all the way from Tochigi Prefecture who he had seen on TV in a report about people who like snakes. The woman told Makiguchi she keeps 3 or 4 big snakes at home and rolls around with them before bedtime in order to cool down. So he had found a woman who had no problem with the scene but he struggled to get a terrified performance out of her. Apparently most of the time her face looked more aroused than scared. After filming was completed, she actually asked Makiguchi if she could take the snakes back home. He allowed her to keep an "unnoticeable" amount and she selected the ones she thought were the cute ones and went home with a big smile.
Last edited by Guro Taku on 11 Jan 2020, 18:24, edited 1 time in total.
- HungFist
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
Hah, awesome story!
- HungFist
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
Finally managed to snatch this for a reasonable price!
Delinquent Girl Boss: Tokyo Drifters (1970)
The size is 140x51cm.
I'd been keeping an eye on this poster for a year but could never afford it as it was listed at 10 000 yen (about $100). Last week finally another copy appeared at Yahoo Japan Auctions and I managed to get it for 1600 yen (about $16). Condition is inferior, but good enough for me.
Delinquent Girl Boss: Tokyo Drifters (1970)
The size is 140x51cm.
I'd been keeping an eye on this poster for a year but could never afford it as it was listed at 10 000 yen (about $100). Last week finally another copy appeared at Yahoo Japan Auctions and I managed to get it for 1600 yen (about $16). Condition is inferior, but good enough for me.
- HungFist
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
Picked up another poster.
Girl Boss: Diamond Showdown (1974)
140x51cm.
Got this for 1200 yen (approx. $12). And it's in terrific condition!
Girl Boss: Diamond Showdown (1974)
140x51cm.
Got this for 1200 yen (approx. $12). And it's in terrific condition!
- HungFist
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
According to Nikkatsu's website the following 2017 releases have audio commentary:Guro Taku wrote:I think Wife's Sexual Fantasy 妻たちの性体験 夫の眼の前で、今・・・ (1980) is the only one that has an audio commentary.HungFist wrote:Some ofthe discs have audio commentaries. Most have just trailer and photo gallery.
- Red Vertigo (Takashi Ishii) [BD]
- Carousel Maki: Yoru wa watashi o nurasu (Maki Carousel) [DVD]
- Love Hunter: Lust (Mari Tanaka) [DVD]
They've taken the 2016 site down, so I can't check, but I think at least Love Hotel (Noriko Hayami) was supposed to have a commentary track
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
Just got this!
Can't express how happy I am I finally managed to snatch this after a few years worth of lost auctions. It's a rare item and very much in demand.
Exceptionally, there were two copies for sale at the same time, the one closing first listed with a notably higher starting price. I figured I'd get this for a semi reasonable price by bidding on the more expensive one. That's because that would send other bidders to the cheaper one which, however, because it closes later and it is only human that in a bidding war people end up bidding more than they planned on the last minute, would end up going for a higher price in the end. That's exactly what happened! I got mine for 4600 yen (with shipping), the other copy went for 6300 (with shipping).
I've seen this poster going for 7000 - 8000 yen before... which was too much for my budget.
Can't express how happy I am I finally managed to snatch this after a few years worth of lost auctions. It's a rare item and very much in demand.
Exceptionally, there were two copies for sale at the same time, the one closing first listed with a notably higher starting price. I figured I'd get this for a semi reasonable price by bidding on the more expensive one. That's because that would send other bidders to the cheaper one which, however, because it closes later and it is only human that in a bidding war people end up bidding more than they planned on the last minute, would end up going for a higher price in the end. That's exactly what happened! I got mine for 4600 yen (with shipping), the other copy went for 6300 (with shipping).
I've seen this poster going for 7000 - 8000 yen before... which was too much for my budget.
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
I'm not a huge Wakamatsu fan, but I loved this film so much I gotta post a bit about it.
A Pool Without Water (水のないプール) (Japan, 1982)
An absolutely astonishing, almost hypnotic dive into the psyche of a man who becomes a morally corrupted but not downright evil rapist. Yuya Uchida, a rock star turned absolutely fearless actor, is excellent as bored, sexually frustrated family man who discovers he can take advantage of women during their sleep without getting caught using chloroform. Feeling quilt, he actually prepares breakfast and does the house cleaning for his regular victim. It is for its refusal to outright condemn its protagonist that the film is so unique, challenging and thought provoking, tied to Japanese society and its film history of sympathizing otaku, and frankly couldn't exist in almost any other country. It is also darkly humoristic, but strictly labelling it as black comedy would be an attempt to avoid facing the film as what it is. One of Koji Wakamatsu's best films, greatly aided by Katsuo Ono's stunning score and Uchida's amazing performance. He gave fantastic performances in films like Erotic Liaisons (1978), Rolling on the Road (1981) and No More Comics (1986), playing a fallen detective, asshole rock star, and paparazzi, not afraid to show himself in a negative light or sympathize low lives.
The recently released Japanese rental/retail dvd by Happinet looks good enough but the audio features a lot of hiss. I assume this is a re-issue of the old Pioneer DVD. I also don't know how the French dvd compares.
A Pool Without Water (水のないプール) (Japan, 1982)
An absolutely astonishing, almost hypnotic dive into the psyche of a man who becomes a morally corrupted but not downright evil rapist. Yuya Uchida, a rock star turned absolutely fearless actor, is excellent as bored, sexually frustrated family man who discovers he can take advantage of women during their sleep without getting caught using chloroform. Feeling quilt, he actually prepares breakfast and does the house cleaning for his regular victim. It is for its refusal to outright condemn its protagonist that the film is so unique, challenging and thought provoking, tied to Japanese society and its film history of sympathizing otaku, and frankly couldn't exist in almost any other country. It is also darkly humoristic, but strictly labelling it as black comedy would be an attempt to avoid facing the film as what it is. One of Koji Wakamatsu's best films, greatly aided by Katsuo Ono's stunning score and Uchida's amazing performance. He gave fantastic performances in films like Erotic Liaisons (1978), Rolling on the Road (1981) and No More Comics (1986), playing a fallen detective, asshole rock star, and paparazzi, not afraid to show himself in a negative light or sympathize low lives.
The recently released Japanese rental/retail dvd by Happinet looks good enough but the audio features a lot of hiss. I assume this is a re-issue of the old Pioneer DVD. I also don't know how the French dvd compares.
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
Sadao Nakajima Toei Sex Doc x 3. All are available on Toei DVD.
Nippon '69 Sexual Curiosity Seeking Zone (にっぽん69 セックス猟奇地帯) (1969)
Student demonstrations, plastic surgery, body painting, 8mm porn film shoot, strip joints, underground theatre groups and a man who wishes to be treated as a dog and wants to drink his mistress' pee (this may have been an inspiration to Teruo Ishii's Shameless: Abnormal and Abusive Love, 1969). A commercial shock documentary in the tradition of Italian mondo films, which had been remarkably popular in Japan based on the sheer amount of them that got released throughout the 60s in the land of the rising skirt. The disgusting plastic surgery footage aside this Sadao Nakajima film is quite tame, with sexual content limited to a fair few topless shots. It is a little more rewarding as late 60s time capsule featuring real underground figures and street footage, also the 60s student movement and street demonstrations prominently in presence.
Pilgrimage to Japanese Baths (驚異のドュメント 日本浴場物語) (1971)
A strange, semi-authentic documentary exploration of Japanese public baths and hot springs. The entirely fictional frame story features a man burdened by a mother complex journeying around Japan in search of a great bath. The Eiren synopsis speaks of nostalgia and tradition tied to spiritualism and health, contrasted to the modern era and captured with hidden cameras. It is questionable how much of that actually comes through in this 18 rated (by 1970 standards) film where half of the time you know the scenes are staged. That being said, its R18 labelling seems extremely dated by today's standards (toplessness, c-section, Turkish bath footage with no explicit sex). It's one of those cinematic oddities that don't exist anymore in the internet era.
Twisted Sex (セックスドキュメント 性倒錯の世界) (1971)
"Modern Japan. Sex is everywhere. There we have a woman with a woman. Or is it a man after all? What is a man or a woman anyway?" The third and final in Sadao Nakajima's sex doc series covers transvestites, gay men, lesbians, tattoos and S&M. This one is actually interesting in parts, especially in its romantic portrayal of gay men, something which is greatly aided by Ichiro Araki's cool score that blesses the entire film. There's also some interesting footage with Nippon Irezumi Club needle masters creating sadistic full body tattoo art with the kind of visions of torture hell familiar to viewers from Teruo Ishii's ero guro films. The doc gets less interesting when it moves to S&M content (Oniroku Dan also appears here). Again, the film is perhaps more valuable as cinematic curiosity and time capsule than as informative doc. Oh and the words quoted in the beginning? The voice belongs to narrator Ko Nishimura, probably best known to foreign audiences as the priest in Lady Snowblood (1973).
Gay guys
Lesbian gals
Nippon Irezumi Club (Japan Tattoo Club)
Oniroku Dan on the left
Nippon '69 Sexual Curiosity Seeking Zone (にっぽん69 セックス猟奇地帯) (1969)
Student demonstrations, plastic surgery, body painting, 8mm porn film shoot, strip joints, underground theatre groups and a man who wishes to be treated as a dog and wants to drink his mistress' pee (this may have been an inspiration to Teruo Ishii's Shameless: Abnormal and Abusive Love, 1969). A commercial shock documentary in the tradition of Italian mondo films, which had been remarkably popular in Japan based on the sheer amount of them that got released throughout the 60s in the land of the rising skirt. The disgusting plastic surgery footage aside this Sadao Nakajima film is quite tame, with sexual content limited to a fair few topless shots. It is a little more rewarding as late 60s time capsule featuring real underground figures and street footage, also the 60s student movement and street demonstrations prominently in presence.
Pilgrimage to Japanese Baths (驚異のドュメント 日本浴場物語) (1971)
A strange, semi-authentic documentary exploration of Japanese public baths and hot springs. The entirely fictional frame story features a man burdened by a mother complex journeying around Japan in search of a great bath. The Eiren synopsis speaks of nostalgia and tradition tied to spiritualism and health, contrasted to the modern era and captured with hidden cameras. It is questionable how much of that actually comes through in this 18 rated (by 1970 standards) film where half of the time you know the scenes are staged. That being said, its R18 labelling seems extremely dated by today's standards (toplessness, c-section, Turkish bath footage with no explicit sex). It's one of those cinematic oddities that don't exist anymore in the internet era.
Twisted Sex (セックスドキュメント 性倒錯の世界) (1971)
"Modern Japan. Sex is everywhere. There we have a woman with a woman. Or is it a man after all? What is a man or a woman anyway?" The third and final in Sadao Nakajima's sex doc series covers transvestites, gay men, lesbians, tattoos and S&M. This one is actually interesting in parts, especially in its romantic portrayal of gay men, something which is greatly aided by Ichiro Araki's cool score that blesses the entire film. There's also some interesting footage with Nippon Irezumi Club needle masters creating sadistic full body tattoo art with the kind of visions of torture hell familiar to viewers from Teruo Ishii's ero guro films. The doc gets less interesting when it moves to S&M content (Oniroku Dan also appears here). Again, the film is perhaps more valuable as cinematic curiosity and time capsule than as informative doc. Oh and the words quoted in the beginning? The voice belongs to narrator Ko Nishimura, probably best known to foreign audiences as the priest in Lady Snowblood (1973).
Gay guys
Lesbian gals
Nippon Irezumi Club (Japan Tattoo Club)
Oniroku Dan on the left
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
Hot Springs Geisha 2 (温泉ポン引女中) (1969)
The first Hot Springs Geisha (1968) film, a harmless sex comedy and one of Teruo Ishii's dullest efforts, only managed to sneak in one or two brief topless shots. This sequel does more in the opening credits scene alone. It's a skin flick in and out, but thankfully one with an enjoyably laidback swing, drenched in 60s aesthetics, and without too many boring bits. And just when you're about to get a bit tired of it, it throws in a bizarre nude party scene with Tatsumi Hijikata's Butoh dancers! And then there's a super violent shocker final reel that makes you wonder if the filmmakers decided they should've gone the Joy of Torture (1968) route instead. Though unjustified quality wise, you can't quite help but to see the Beneath the Valley of the Dolls (1970) parallels. This is as good if not better than the two Norifumi Suzuki directed instalments (parts 4 and 5).
The lovely Ishii muse Masumi Tachibana
Yumiko Katayama!
My idol Osman Yusuf
Tatsumi Hijikata's Butoh gang
The first Hot Springs Geisha (1968) film, a harmless sex comedy and one of Teruo Ishii's dullest efforts, only managed to sneak in one or two brief topless shots. This sequel does more in the opening credits scene alone. It's a skin flick in and out, but thankfully one with an enjoyably laidback swing, drenched in 60s aesthetics, and without too many boring bits. And just when you're about to get a bit tired of it, it throws in a bizarre nude party scene with Tatsumi Hijikata's Butoh dancers! And then there's a super violent shocker final reel that makes you wonder if the filmmakers decided they should've gone the Joy of Torture (1968) route instead. Though unjustified quality wise, you can't quite help but to see the Beneath the Valley of the Dolls (1970) parallels. This is as good if not better than the two Norifumi Suzuki directed instalments (parts 4 and 5).
The lovely Ishii muse Masumi Tachibana
Yumiko Katayama!
My idol Osman Yusuf
Tatsumi Hijikata's Butoh gang
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
A couple of Reiko Oshida stills and photos!
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Re: Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink)
March 10, 2020 EDIT
I finally did what I should’ve done more than a decade ago. I split the Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink) thread in two.
1. Toei Pinky Violence thread:
- Toei Pinky Violence + Toei Porno + comparable big studio (non-porno studio) productions by Toho (e.g. Rica), Daiei (e.g. Decapitation Island) etc.
2: Nikkatsu Roman Porno + Pink thread:
- Nikkatsu Roman Porno + Pink Films e.g. Shintoho, Wakamatsu, independents
It’s still work in progress. Some posts may be in the wrong thread.
Don’t stress too much about the split. If you don’t know which thread to post in, just pick one that feels more suitable. The main idea was the separate Toei’s Pinky Violence and Nikkatsu’s Roman Porno, and the rest shall go in whichever feels more suitable (the Toei thread for the more mainstream type of films with eros flavour, the Nikkatsu thread for the more genuine pink / sleaze type of films).
We also have the Japanese Cult Cinema thread to cover films that don’t have the pinky violence / girl gang / pink / eros emphasis (anything from yakuza to karate to samurai fits there).
I finally did what I should’ve done more than a decade ago. I split the Classic Japanese Exploitation (pinky violence & pink) thread in two.
1. Toei Pinky Violence thread:
- Toei Pinky Violence + Toei Porno + comparable big studio (non-porno studio) productions by Toho (e.g. Rica), Daiei (e.g. Decapitation Island) etc.
2: Nikkatsu Roman Porno + Pink thread:
- Nikkatsu Roman Porno + Pink Films e.g. Shintoho, Wakamatsu, independents
It’s still work in progress. Some posts may be in the wrong thread.
Don’t stress too much about the split. If you don’t know which thread to post in, just pick one that feels more suitable. The main idea was the separate Toei’s Pinky Violence and Nikkatsu’s Roman Porno, and the rest shall go in whichever feels more suitable (the Toei thread for the more mainstream type of films with eros flavour, the Nikkatsu thread for the more genuine pink / sleaze type of films).
We also have the Japanese Cult Cinema thread to cover films that don’t have the pinky violence / girl gang / pink / eros emphasis (anything from yakuza to karate to samurai fits there).
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
HungFist wrote: ↑27 Aug 2018, 14:41 Hot Springs Geisha 2 (温泉ポン引女中) (1969)
The first Hot Springs Geisha (1968) film, a harmless sex comedy and one of Teruo Ishii's dullest efforts, only managed to sneak in one or two brief topless shots. This sequel does more in the opening credits scene alone. It's a skin flick in and out, but thankfully one with an enjoyably laidback swing, drenched in 60s aesthetics, and without too many boring bits. And just when you're about to get a bit tired of it, it throws in a bizarre nude party scene with Tatsumi Hijikata's Butoh dancers! And then there's a super violent shocker final reel that makes you wonder if the filmmakers decided they should've gone the Joy of Torture (1968) route instead. Though unjustified quality wise, you can't quite help but to see the Beneath the Valley of the Dolls (1970) parallels. This is as good if not better than the two Norifumi Suzuki directed instalments (parts 4 and 5).
(same film, two titles)Guro Taku wrote: ↑29 Feb 2020, 10:43 Hot Springs Pimp Geisha (温泉ポン引女中) (Japan, 1969) [DVD] - 4/5
This may be my new favorite entry in this 7 film series but that's pending a rewatch of my previous favorite, Norifumi Suzuki's Hot Springs Soft-Shell Turtle Geisha (温泉スッポン芸者, 1972). If it ends up in second place, it'll be a very close second, though. The film follows the typical structure of Toei exploitation by starting with a bang - an explosion of TITS in this case! - and then winding down for some exposition and drama for an hour before the grand, excessive finale. It's really amazing how this film was preceded and followed by absolute borefests when it's so deliriously insane. The aforementioned excessive finale starts with an orgy the rivalling geisha house throws for wealthy elites and which is all about erotic-grotesque shenenigans in Argento-esque lighting and women having sex with dogs. When that is over and you figure that must have been it, the bad guys steer a motorboat into the "enemy" geisha's HQ and gut them with the outboard motor. Director Misao Arai previously worked the same year as assistant director to Teruo Ishii on Orgies of Edo (残酷異常虐待物語 元禄女系図, 1969) and it really, really shows.
Found a bunch of fantastic stills for sale on yahoo auctions
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
A few words about one of my favourite Pinky Violence movies, Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (前科おんな 殺し節) (1973), or to be more precise, its theatrical poster. I've included part of the explanation as a screenshot since the forum doesn’t support furigana.
There is a rather outrageous grammar play in evidence here. As you know, the Japanese language is written using mainly kanji characters, which are a pain in the ass to learn because there are thousands of them. That’s why it was commonplace in old movie posters to give a furigana (an easy reading in simple characters) in small font above any difficult kanji. Sometimes, however, the filmmakers got sneaky and gave unorthodox furigana readings to common kanji words. In this film poster, it says “Those bastards”! However, the furigana given for the common kanji word “bastard” is actually “men”. So they literally spelled “men” as “bastards”! Pretty awesome!
The 2nd thing I wanted to point out is that the poster actually advertises this as the 1st film in a new series. Of course, no sequels ever followed. It may have been that the timing was just too late: the film came out Oct. 27, 1973, when the Girl Gang genre had already passed its peak. In 1974 Karate films would begin to replace Girl Gang movies as the B-features for Yakuza films in double bills.
Also related... I brought up Shigeru Okada and Kanji Amao as the Godfathers of Pinky Violence in the other thread, but I think there’s another producer duo that has been criminally neglected: Kineo Yoshimine (吉峰甲子夫) and Kenji Takamura (高村賢治).
Yoshimine was the producer on The Delinquent Girl Boss series (ずべ公番長), the Wandering Ginza Butterfly series (銀蝶渡り鳥), the Female Prisoner Scorpion series (女囚さそり), Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (前科おんな 殺し節), Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (0課の女 赤い手錠) and later in the karate era the Sister Street Fighter series (女必殺拳), The Great Chase (華麗なる追跡) and Dragon Princess (必殺女拳士). Takamura served as co-producer in most of them
Unfortunately little to none has been written about these two men. But looking at their filmography, I think it’s Yoshimine and Takamura (alongside Norifumi Suzuki) who brought the feminist push into Pinky Violence much more than Lustful Okada or Porno Amao.
Stills from Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (前科おんな 殺し節) (1973), produced by Yoshimine and Takamura.
There is a rather outrageous grammar play in evidence here. As you know, the Japanese language is written using mainly kanji characters, which are a pain in the ass to learn because there are thousands of them. That’s why it was commonplace in old movie posters to give a furigana (an easy reading in simple characters) in small font above any difficult kanji. Sometimes, however, the filmmakers got sneaky and gave unorthodox furigana readings to common kanji words. In this film poster, it says “Those bastards”! However, the furigana given for the common kanji word “bastard” is actually “men”. So they literally spelled “men” as “bastards”! Pretty awesome!
The 2nd thing I wanted to point out is that the poster actually advertises this as the 1st film in a new series. Of course, no sequels ever followed. It may have been that the timing was just too late: the film came out Oct. 27, 1973, when the Girl Gang genre had already passed its peak. In 1974 Karate films would begin to replace Girl Gang movies as the B-features for Yakuza films in double bills.
Also related... I brought up Shigeru Okada and Kanji Amao as the Godfathers of Pinky Violence in the other thread, but I think there’s another producer duo that has been criminally neglected: Kineo Yoshimine (吉峰甲子夫) and Kenji Takamura (高村賢治).
Yoshimine was the producer on The Delinquent Girl Boss series (ずべ公番長), the Wandering Ginza Butterfly series (銀蝶渡り鳥), the Female Prisoner Scorpion series (女囚さそり), Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (前科おんな 殺し節), Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (0課の女 赤い手錠) and later in the karate era the Sister Street Fighter series (女必殺拳), The Great Chase (華麗なる追跡) and Dragon Princess (必殺女拳士). Takamura served as co-producer in most of them
Unfortunately little to none has been written about these two men. But looking at their filmography, I think it’s Yoshimine and Takamura (alongside Norifumi Suzuki) who brought the feminist push into Pinky Violence much more than Lustful Okada or Porno Amao.
Stills from Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (前科おんな 殺し節) (1973), produced by Yoshimine and Takamura.
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Re: The Roman Porno + Pink thread
Teruo Ishii's SHOGUN'S JOY OF TORTURE is getting a BD/DVD release in Germany next month. Uncut but without subtitles of any kind, which is weird because I recall VHS and DVD releases by the same label having optional English, Dutch and German subtitles. BD world premiere, though, and one of the 4 cover variants is the original poster artwork. And all that for the low, low price of 39.99€! Seriously, Japanese releases are starting to look cheap in comparison to this nonsense.
https://shop.dtm.at/product_info.php?products_id=75818
https://shop.dtm.at/product_info.php?products_id=75818
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
Should be coming from Arrow, as well. There hasn't been an official announcement, but the commentary on Inferno of Torture supposedly makes a reference to Joy as an Arrow release, and Jasper Sharp was looking for original Joy promotional materials maybe 6 months ago as well.
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
That'd make sense, though I am curious how the BBFC will react to JOY OF TORTURE. It's a bit nastier than what they've so far passed uncut. For the record, Shock also put out YAKUZA'S LAW and INFERNO OF TORTURE in Germany in recent months. Both also without any subtitles, so with the Arrow releases already out there, they're not even worth mentioning unless anybody's a huge fan of German dubs.
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
Est-ce que Virgin Breaker est toujours disponible même actuellement?HungFist wrote: ↑19 Jan 2007, 20:03 March 10, 2020 EDIT
I finally did what I should’ve done more than a decade ago. I split this thread in two.
1. Toei Pinky Violence thread:
- Toei Pinky Violence + Toei Porno + comparable big studio (non-porno studio) productions by Toho (e.g. Rica), Daiei (e.g. Decapitation Island) etc.
2: Nikkatsu Roman Porno + Pink thread:
- Nikkatsu Roman Porno + Pink Films e.g. Shintoho, Wakamatsu, independents
It’s still work in progress. Some posts may be in the wrong thread.
Don’t stress too much about the split. If you don’t know which thread to post in, just pick one that feels more suitable. The main idea was the separate Toei’s Pinky Violence and Nikkatsu’s Roman Porno, and the rest shall go in whichever feels more suitable (the Toei thread for the more mainstream type of films with eros flavour, the Nikkatsu thread for the more genuine pink / sleaze type of films).
We also have the Japanese Cult Cinema thread to cover films that don’t have the pinky violence / girl gang / pink / eros emphasis (anything from yakuza to karate to samurai fits there).
End of March 10, 2020 EDIT
************************************************
This is a little free time project that originally begun when I couldn’t keep track of what’s been released. There’s three lists. The first list is Toei’s pinky violence and pinku eiga. Due to the limited availability on dvd, I’m aiming at a perfect list (edit: each film is now roughly labeled as either "action" or "drama", to separate pinky violence from pink dramas. All films where action or violence play seminal role are labeled as "action", with all others being "drama").
The second list is Nikkatsu’s pinku, and only includes the english subtitled dvds (update: now out of date), plus selected R2J release.
The last list is similarly themed films from other studios. It only includes a couple of personal picks.
Any help (personal ratings, links, additions to the list) is welcome. Note that all my ratings and reviews are my personal opinions, and especially in case of Nikkatsu's films don't always match with opinions of the majority, or even genre fans.
Toei titles available with english subtitles
Criminal Woman: Killing Melody (Zenka onna: koroshi-bushi) (1973)
- director: Atsushi Mihori
- review: dvd reviews
- availability: R1 US Panik House (Pinky Violence Box set)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: Reiko Ike wears incredibly stylish clothes in this film
- sub-genre: crime, action
Delinquent Girl Boss: Blossoming Night Dreams (Zubeko bancho: yume wa yoru hiraku) (1970)
- director: Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
- review: dvd reviews
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- availability: R1 Exploitation Digital, R2J Toei (August 2008)
- notes: first film in the series. Also knows as ”Tokyo Bad Girls”
- sub-genre: girl gang, drama, action
Delinquent Girl Boss: Worthless to Confess (Zubeko bancho: zange no neuchi mo nai) (1971)
- director: Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
- review: dvd reviews
- availability: R1 US Panik House (Pinky Violence Box set), R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: fourth film in the series. Also knows as ”Delinquent Girl Boss: Unworthy of Penance”
- sub-genre: girl gang, drama, action
Female Demon Ohyaku (Yôen dokufu den: hannya no ohyaku) (1968)
- director: Yoshihiro Ishikawa
- review: dvd reviews
- availability: R1 US Synapse
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: proto-pinky violence.
- sub-genre: chambara, revenge, action
Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion (Joshuu 701-go: Sasori) (1972)
- director: Shunya Ito
- review: dvd comparison, film review and dvd comparison 2,
Simulation de rachat de créditdvd comparison 3, more reviews
- availability: R2J Toei, R2 FR HK Video (Femmes Fatales box set), R2 FR Pathe (Sasori box set) (September 2007), R2 DE R.E.M, R2 UK Eureka, R1 US Media Blasters
- forum ratings: HungFist – 4/5
- notes: features the theme song ’Urami bushi’ by Meiko Kaji, also heard in Kill Bill, original poster
- dvd notes: Media Blasters and R.E.M (probably a conversion) and Eureka (conversion again) appear to be Toei ports.
- sub-genre: women in prison, surrealism, action
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (Joshuu sasori: Dai-41 zakkyo-bo) (1972)
- director: Shunya Ito
- reviews: dvd comparison, dvd comparison 2, more reviews
- availability: R2J Toei, R2 FR Studio Canal, R2 FR Pathe (Sasori box set) (September 2007), R2 DE R.E.M, R2 UK Eureka, R1 US Image (OOP)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4,5/5
- notes: also known as Female Convict Scorpion Jailhouse 41, original poster
- dvd notes: Eureka is a port of R1 Image (but a conversion). Crap transfer. R.E.M is likely to be a port (and a conversion) of the Toei release.
- sub-genre: women in prison, surrealism, action
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (Joshuu sasori: Kemono-beya) (1973)
- director: Shunya Ito
- reviews: dvd comparison, dvd reviews
- availability: R2J Toei, R1 US Media Blasters, R2 FR Pathe (Sasori box set), R2 DE R.E.M (Sasori Box Set), R2 UK Eureka
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: last film in the series directed by Ito, original poster
- dvd notes: R1 was said to be improved over the R2J transfer, but this is unconfirmed information and may not be true. MB dvd are usually ports.
- sub-genre: women in prison, surrealism, drama, action
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Grudge Song (Joshuu sasori: 701-go urami-bushi) (1973)
- director: Yasuharu Hasebe
- reviews: dvd comparison, dvd reviews
- availability: R2J Toei, R1 US Media Blasters, R2 FR Pathe (Sasori box set), R2 DE R.E.M (Sasori Box Set)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: original poster, more Sasori films were made later without Meiko Kaji. Joe Ma’s ”HK Sasori” will hit the theaters later this year.
- dvd notes: Media Blasters is likely to be a Toei port.
- sub-genre: women in prison, surrealism, drama, crime, action
Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition & Torture (Yasagure anego den: sokatsu rinchi) (1973)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- review: dvd review, more dvd reviews
- availability: R1 US Panik House. R2 UK Fabulous, R4 AU Shock
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: sequel to Sex And Fury. Also know as ’Story of a Wild Elder Sister: Widespread Lynch Law’
- sub-genre: yakuza, action
Girl Boss Guerilla (Sukeban gerira) (1972)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- review: dvd reviews, more reviews
- availability: R1 US Panik House (Pinky Violence Box set + stand alone release)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: third film in the Sukeban series, original poster 1, original poster 2
- sub-genre: girl gang, biker, action, comedy
Girl Boss Revenge (Sukeban) (1973)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- availability: R1 Exploitation Digital (February 2008)
- Review: dvd reviews
- forum ratings: HungFist - 4/5
- notes: fourth film in the Sukeban series
- sub-genre: girl gang, action
Horror of the Malformed Men (Edogawa ranpo taizen: Kyofu kikei ningen) (1969)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- availability: R1 Synapse (August 2007)
- review: dvd reviews
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- sub-genre: horror, violence
Inferno of Torture (Tokugawa irezumi-shi: Seme jigoku) (1969)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- review: my review in this thread
- availability: R2J Toei, R2 NL Japan Shock, R2 DE X-Rated, R2 FR HK Video (Femmes Criminelles Vol.1)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: also known as ’Hell's Tattooers’
- IMPORTANT: the IMDB page features links and comments for wrong film (the sequel / Shogun’s Sadism). These films differ like day and night. This is not the disturbing ”hard core torture film” that many of those comments talk about
- sub-genre: torture (soft), tattoo, drama, violence
Joy of Torture, The (Tokugawa onna keibatsu-shi) (1968)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- review: dvd review, dvd comparison, more dvd reviews
- availability: R2J Toei, R2 NL Japan Shock, R2 FR HK Video (Ishii Box Vol. 2)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3,5/5
- notes: Also known as ’Tokugawa Onna Keigokushi’, ’Shogun’s Joy of Torture’ and ’The Punishment of the Tokugawa Women’.
- sub-genre: torture (soft), tattoo, nunsploitation, drama, episode, violence
Okatsu the Fugitive (Yoen dokufuden: Okatsu kyojo tabi) (1969)
- director: Nobuo Nakagawa
- review: dvd reviews
- availability: R1 US Synapse
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- sub-genre: chambara, revenge, action
Porno Jidaigeki – Bohachi Bushido (1973)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- review: film review
- availability: R2J Toei, R1 Discotek (March 2008???)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4,5/5
- notes: Also known as Bohachi: Clan of the forgotten Eight
- sub-genre: chambara, action
Quick Draw Okatsu (Yoen dokufuden: Hitokiri okatsu) (1969)
- director: Nobuo Nakagawa
- review: dvd reviews
- availability: R1 US Synapse
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4,5/5
- sub-genre: chambara, revenge, action
School of the Holy Beast (Seiju gakuen) (1974)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- review: dvd comparison, dvd reviews
- availability: R2J Toei, R2 FR Studio Canal, R1 Cult Epics
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: also known as ’Convent of the Sacred Beast’
- dvd notes: R1 is a R2J port but with lower bit rate. It has a blue tint which is apparently intentional. French dvd does not feature the blue tint. original poster
- sub-genre: nunsploitation, violence
Sex & Fury (Furyo anego den: Inoshika Ocho) (1973)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- review: dvd review, more dvd reviews
- availability: R1 US Panik House, R2 UK Fabulous, R2J Toei, R4 Shock, R2 Nordic AWE / Studio S, R3 HK IVL
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4,5/5
- notes: also knows as ’Anego den’ and ’Elder Sister: Ocho Inoshika’
- sub-genre: yakuza, action, swordplay
Shogun’s Sadism (Tokugawa onna keibatsu-emaki: Ushi-zaki no kei) (1976)
- director: Yuuji Makiguchi
- review: dvd reviews
- availability: R2 NL Japan Shock
- forum ratings: HungFist: 2/5
- notes: semi sequel to The Joy of Torture. Also know as The Joy of Torture 2: Oxen Split Torturing.
- sub-genre: torture (hard), terror, violence
Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom (Kyofu joshikoko: boko rinchi kyoshitsu) (1973)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- review: dvd reviews, more reviews
- availability: R1 US Panik House (Pinky Violence Box set + stand alone release)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: second film in the series, original poster
- sub-genre: girl gang, high school, violence, action
Wandering Ginza Butterfly (1972)
- director: Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
- reviews: dvd reviews
- availability: R1 Synapse
- forum ratings: HungFist - 4/5
- sub-genre: yakuza, action
Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She Cat Gambler (1972)
- director: Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
- reviews: dvd reviews
- availability: R1 Synapse
- forum ratings: HungFist - 4/5
- sub-genre: yakuza, action, comedy
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (Zeroka no onna: Akai wappa) (1974)
- director: Yukio Noda
- review: film review and dvd comparison, dvd reviews
- availability: R2 FR HK Video (Femmes Fatales box set), R2 NL Japan Shock, R1 US Discotek
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: Not to be confused with the 90’s / 2000’s straight to video crap. This original film has nothing to do with them and has no actual sequels. original poster, original poster 2
- sub-genre: crime, action, violence
Toei titles not available with english subtitles
Delinquent Girl Boss: Tokyo Drifters (Zubekô banchô: Tôkyô nagaremono) (1970)
- director: Kuzuhiko Yamaguchi
- availability: R2J Toei (August 2008)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: second film in the Delinquent Girl Boss series
- sub-genre: girl gang, action
Delinquent Girl Boss: Ballad of Yokohama Hoods (Zubekô banchô: Hamagure kazoe uta) (1971)
- director: Kuzuhiko Yamaguchi
- availability: R2J Toei (August 2008)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- notes: third film in the Delinquent Girl Boss series
- sub-genre: girl gang, biker, action
Dolls of the Shogun's Harem (Ooku jyuhakkei) (1986)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- availability: R2J Toei (June 21, 2007)
- review: IMDB user comments
- forum ratings: HungFist: 2,5/5
- sub-genre: period drama with a bit of action and violence
Ijo seai kiroku, harenchi (1969)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- availability: Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 2,5/5
- sub-genre: drama, psycho-thriller, a bit of violence too
Journey to Japan (Poruno no joô: Nippon sex ryokô) (1973)
- director: Sadao Nakajima
- availability: R2 Nordic AWE/Studio S
- forum ratings: HungFist - 2/5
- notes: stars Christina Lindberg
- sub-genre: drama
Love & Crime (Menji, taisho, showa ryoki onna hanzaishi) (1969)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- availability: R2J Toei, R2 FR HK Video (Ishii Box Vol. 2)
- notes: cdjapan title: ’ Meiji Taisho Showa Ryoki Onna Hanzaishi’
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3,5/5
- sub-genre: drama, horror, crime, episode, violence
Lustful Shogun and His 21 Mistresses (Ero Shogun to Nijuichi-nin no Aisho) (1972)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- availability: R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3,5/5
- notes: Reiko Ike as ninja!
- sub-genre: period drama, comedy, a little bit of action also
Mantis Wife’s Confession (Satsuki Midori no Kamakiri Fujin no Kokuhaku) (1975)
- director: Yuuji Makiguchi
- availability: R2J Toei
- Forum ratings: HungFist: 1/5
- notes: aka Mantis Lady’s Confession
- sub-genre: drama, comedy
Modern Porno Tale: Inherited Sex Mania (1971) (Gendai porno-den: senten-sei inpu)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- availability: R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 2/5
- availability: R2J Toei
- sub-genre: drama, comedy
New Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701 (Shin joshuu sasori: 701-go) (1976)
- director: Yukata Kohira
- availability: R2 FR Pathe (Scorpion box set)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3,5/5
- notes: The 1st New Sasori film, stars Yumi Takigawa
- sub-genre: women in prison, surrealism, action, violence
New Female Prisoner Scorpion: Tokushu-bo X (Shin joshuu sasori: Tokushu-bo X) (1977)
- director: Yukata Kohira
- availability: R2 FR Pathe (Scorpion box set)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: 2nd New Sasori, and final 70's Sasori film, stars Yoko Natsuki
- sub-genre: women in prison, surrealism, action, violence
Ooku ukiyoburo (1976)
- director: Ikuo Sekimoto
- availability: R2J Toei (cut)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 2/5
- sub-genre: drama, comedy
Orgies of Edo (Zankoku ijô gyakutai monogatari: Genroku onna keizu) (1969)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- review: dvd review
- availability: R2J Toei, R2 FR HK Video (Femmes Criminelles Vol.1)
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: FR title: Orgies sadiques l’ere Edo
- sub-genre: period drama, torture, violence
Story of a Nymphomaniac (Koshoku: Genroku (maruhi) monogatari) (1975)
- director: Ikuo Sekimoto
- availability: R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 1/5
- notes: aka Lewd Genroku: Secret Story
- sub-genre: drama, comedy
Sukeban Blues: Queen Bee’s Counter Attack (Sukeban Blues: Mesubachi no gyakushu) (1971)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- availability: R2J Toei
- notes: first film in the Sukeban series
- forum ratings: HungFist: 4/5
- sub-genre: action, girl gang, action
Sukeban Blues: Queen Bee’s Challenge (Sukeban Blues: Mesubachi no chosen) (1972)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- availability: R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: second film in the Sukeban series
- sub-genre: action, girl gang, torture
Sukeban: Escape From Reform School (Sukeban: Kankai dasso) (1973)
- director: Sadao Nakajima
- availability: R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: fifth film in the Sukeban series
- sub-genre: action, girl gang
Sukeban: Diamond Showdown (Sukeban:Taiman shobu) (1973)
- director: Ikuo Sekimoto
- availability: R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: sixth film in the Sukeban series
- sub-genre: action, girl gang
Sukeban: Crazy Ball Game (Sukeban: Tamatsuki asobi) (1973)
- director: Ikuo Sekimoto
- availability: R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: seventh (final) film in the Sukeban series
- sub-genre: action, girl gang
Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom (Kyofu joshikôkô: Boryuku kyoshitsu) (1972)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- availability: R2J Toei
- forum ratings: HungFist - 3,5/5
- notes: the 1st film in the series
- sub-genre: action, high school
Terrifying Girls' High School: Delinquent Convulsion Group (Kyofu joshikôkô: Furyo monzetsu guruupu) (1973)
- director: Masahiro Shimura
- availability: R2J Toei (August 2009)
- forum ratings: HungFist - 2,5/5
- notes: the 3rd film in the series
- sub-genre: action, high school
Terrifying Girls' High School: Animal Courage (Kyofu joshikôkô: Animaru Dokyosei) (1973)
- director: Masahiro Shimura
- availability: R2J Toei (August 2009)
- forum ratings: HungFist - 2/5
- notes: the 4th (final) film in the series
- sub-genre: action, high school
Tokugawa onna keizu (1968)
- director: Teruo Ishii
- review: dvd review
- availability: R2J Toei, R2 FR HK Video (Femmes Criminelles Vol.1), R2 DE Eyecatcher
- forum ratings: HungFist: 3/5
- notes: early pinky violence, light on both elements
- sub-genre: period drama, comedy
Tokugawa Sex Ban: Lustful Lord (Tokugawa sekkusu kinshi-rei: shikijô daimyô) (1972)
- director: Norifumi Suzuki
- forum ratings: HungFist: 2/5
- availability: R2J Toei
- sub-genre: period drama, comedy
Virgin Breaker Yuki (Tamawari nin Yuki) (1975)
- director: Yuuji Makiguchi
- availability: R2J Toei
- sub-genre: period drama
Virgin Breaker Yuki 2 (Tamawari nin Yuki: Nishi no kuruwa yuzuki ro) (1976)
- director: Yuuji Makiguchi
- availability: R2J Toei
- sub-genre: period drama
- Gaijin84
- Jackie Chan's BIG toe
- Posts: 33
- Joined: 10 Jun 2009, 16:02
- Location: NYC
Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/%E6%BD%A4 ... 590&sr=8-2Severine27 wrote: ↑21 Apr 2021, 21:48Est-ce que Virgin Breaker est toujours disponible même actuellement?HungFist wrote: ↑19 Jan 2007, 20:03 March 10, 2020 EDIT
Virgin Breaker Yuki (Tamawari nin Yuki) (1975)
- director: Yuuji Makiguchi
- availability: R2J Toei
- sub-genre: period drama
Virgin Breaker Yuki 2 (Tamawari nin Yuki: Nishi no kuruwa yuzuki ro) (1976)
- director: Yuuji Makiguchi
- availability: R2J Toei
- sub-genre: period drama
https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/%E6%BD%A4 ... 590&sr=8-4
- HungFist
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
Not Pinky Violence but Toei, so here goes:
Harry and His Geisha Girls (生贄の女たち) (1978)
The film that brought Harry Reems to Japan! The titular character arrives in Japan to have his peanut sized willy replaced with a more respectable member, as persuaded by his lovelorn Japanese wife. The medical operation is successful, but there are side effects, namely, a personality change (now there's an interesting research topic for some curious academic). This is a bizarre, but surprisingly funny addition to Toei's line up of erotic films with imported leads. They first brought in Sandra Julien, Christina Lindberg and Sharon Kelly in 1971-1974 for 1-2 films each, and now, Harry with his big... moustache. It probably had something to do with Toei having distributed Deep Throat theatrically in 1973, and produced its Japanese follow-up Deep Throat in Tokyo in 1975. Anyway, here we have Harry in Japanese yukata and headband serving customers in a restaurant, running for his life from mad women, and running afoul with yakuza who want to cut off his new sausage because they believe it was formerly used for smuggling diamonds from Hong Kong. And let’s not even talk about a couple of hilarious (dick) twists the plot comes with. It’s all quite amusing, and frankly more entertaining than most Japanese erotic comedies, even by Toei. Oh, and isn’t that Osman Yusuf doing the (highly amusing) English/Japanese dubbing for Harry? No one is credited for it, but it sure sounds like him.
The film is sadly not available on disc, or even streaming. Screencaps from Toei Channel. It was actually labelled as "R15-Version" yet I couldn't spot any obvious censorship other than one bit that looked like original theatrical censorship to me. Usually "R15-Version" indicates it's been toned down from R18+ but I've had my doubts for a while now that some of these "R15-Version"s were actually uncensored (in which case it should correctly be labelled as "R15+" without the word "Version"). But I can't say for sure what was the case here.
Harry and His Geisha Girls (生贄の女たち) (1978)
The film that brought Harry Reems to Japan! The titular character arrives in Japan to have his peanut sized willy replaced with a more respectable member, as persuaded by his lovelorn Japanese wife. The medical operation is successful, but there are side effects, namely, a personality change (now there's an interesting research topic for some curious academic). This is a bizarre, but surprisingly funny addition to Toei's line up of erotic films with imported leads. They first brought in Sandra Julien, Christina Lindberg and Sharon Kelly in 1971-1974 for 1-2 films each, and now, Harry with his big... moustache. It probably had something to do with Toei having distributed Deep Throat theatrically in 1973, and produced its Japanese follow-up Deep Throat in Tokyo in 1975. Anyway, here we have Harry in Japanese yukata and headband serving customers in a restaurant, running for his life from mad women, and running afoul with yakuza who want to cut off his new sausage because they believe it was formerly used for smuggling diamonds from Hong Kong. And let’s not even talk about a couple of hilarious (dick) twists the plot comes with. It’s all quite amusing, and frankly more entertaining than most Japanese erotic comedies, even by Toei. Oh, and isn’t that Osman Yusuf doing the (highly amusing) English/Japanese dubbing for Harry? No one is credited for it, but it sure sounds like him.
The film is sadly not available on disc, or even streaming. Screencaps from Toei Channel. It was actually labelled as "R15-Version" yet I couldn't spot any obvious censorship other than one bit that looked like original theatrical censorship to me. Usually "R15-Version" indicates it's been toned down from R18+ but I've had my doubts for a while now that some of these "R15-Version"s were actually uncensored (in which case it should correctly be labelled as "R15+" without the word "Version"). But I can't say for sure what was the case here.
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- King of Beggars
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
It's been over 10 years since I watched this film on VHS but I didn't catch that! In fact the main thing I remember from the film now (other than a plane shaped like a giant dick) is that it annoyed me that they'd dubbed Reems with someone else. I'll have to revisit it sometime.
If I had unlimited funds, time and the necessary connections, I'd totally make a documentary about this time in the 70ies when Toei imported all these exploitation stars for their local productions. Reems unfortunately already passed away in 2013 but the crazy stories everybody else must be able to tell and which will soon be forever lost...
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
This is a bit old news now, but Mondo Macabro will be releasing a A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse on BD!
- https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.ph ... st20385800pnaschy/blu-ray.com wrote: NEW LIMITED EDITION ANNOUNCEMENT #3!
Third up today is one of the craziest films we’ve ever done, a real cult film in-the-making, the 70s Japanese horror/exploitation free-for-all A HAUNTED TURKISH BATHHOUSE!
A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse features Nikkatsu star Naomi Tani as an abused wife sold to a brothel to cover her husband’s debts. The deceitful husband is actually behind it all, in cahoots with the brothel madame, who is his lover. Tani discovers the truth and gets tortured to death. However, the dead woman’s soul seeks vengeance from a most unusual quarter.
The film is a bizarre mixture of Japanese erotica, gangster film and “ghost cat” horror movie. All popular genres in the 1960s and 70s. It’s a heady cocktail and makes for an entertaining and unpredictable film that rocks along at a giddy pace. Director Yamaguchi is best known for his Delinquent Girl Boss and Sister Street Fighter movies as well as the Sonny Chiba film Wolf Guy.
DISC FEATURES
Region A coded US home video premiere
Japanese language track with optional English subs
82 minutes, widescreen 2.35:1, color
Brand new 2K restoration from the original negative
Brand new interview with Patrick Macias about Toei exploitation cinema in the 1970s
Brand new audio commentary by film scholar Samm Deighan
Trailer
LIMITED EDITION FEATURES
Brand new cover art by Justin Coffee; 20 page booklet by film scholar Jasper Sharp; 1200 numbered copies in the usual red case
This will go on sale Thursday, September 8th at 9 AM Pacific/12 noon Eastern/11 AM Central ONLY at mondomacabro.bigcartel.com!
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- King of Beggars
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
That's a really good match of film and distributor. The lack of worthwhile extras is a bummer but unfortunately to be expected.
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Re: The Toei Pinky Violence thread
Coming from Discotek on Dec. 27.
The great news is that they are also doing colour correction. For some reason many companies, including Toei themselves, no longer do that. Here in Japan I get to see a lot of these films from beautiful 35mm prints, and they are NOT green like many of the lame digital masters that really pale in comparison.
- https://twitter.com/discotekmedia/statu ... 3465041921
The great news is that they are also doing colour correction. For some reason many companies, including Toei themselves, no longer do that. Here in Japan I get to see a lot of these films from beautiful 35mm prints, and they are NOT green like many of the lame digital masters that really pale in comparison.
- https://twitter.com/discotekmedia/statu ... 3465041921