The Hideo Gosha thread

[HungFist]

Violent Streets (Quartier Violent) (Boryoku gai) (1974)

Noboru Ando, Isao Natsuyagi, Asao Koike, Tetsuro Tamba and Bunta Sugawara star in Gosha’s violent and extremely stylish yakuza film. Sam Peckinpah meets Dario Argento with a Japanese crime twist.

[HungFist]

While HK Video’s first Gosha box featured four Toei films, Coffret Ronins & Yakuza Vol. 2 comes with four Shochiku films. The content is similiar again; trailers as extras and a 60 page booklet (package states 64) included. The transfers are better, athough still not flawless. The artwork is fantastic again. These digipacks are among the most beautiful ever created.

The films included are:
Three Outlaw Samurai (3 Samourais hors-la-loi) (Sanbiki no samurai) (1964)
Cash Calls Hell (La sang du damne) (Gohiki no shinshi) (1966)
Bandit vs. Samurai Squad (Bandit conter samourai) (Kumokiri nizaemon) (1978)
Death Shadows (Jittemai) (1986)

Three Outlaw Samurai and Bandit vs. Samurai Squad are also available separately.

Coffret Ronins & Yakuza Vol. 2


Three Outlaw Samurai / Cash Calls Hell


Bandit vs Samurai Squad / Death Shadows


A closer look at one of the digipacs (Three Outlaw Samurai)


Inside (the disc would be further on the right)


Chapters / disc


The booklet

[HungFist]

Three Outlaw Samurai (3 Samourais hors-la-loi) (Sanbiki no samurai) (1964)

Hideo Gosha’s first film was an instant classic, a tough samurai adventure starring Tetsuro Tamba. Chang Cheh remade this film a few years after as The Magnificent Trio. Chang copied almost every plot detail, but made the characters more heroic and patriotic. Gosha’s flawed anti-heroes heroes have more depth.

[HungFist]

Cash Calls Hell (La sang du damne) (Gohiki no shinshi) (1966)

This superbly stylish film noir is an undiscovered gem of Japanese cinema. Tatsuya Nakadai plays a convicted crook who finds it difficult to start an honest life after being released from prison. One of Gosha’s best films, if not the best.

[HungFist]

Bandit vs. Samurai Squad (Bandit conter samourai) (Kumokiri nizaemon) (1978)

This 156 min epic isn’t on par with Gosha’s masterpieces. It feels less coherent and especially the ending is a bit of a mess. Nevertheless, it’s a an entertaining epic filled with sex, nudity and violent swordplay.

[HungFist]

Death Shadows (Jittemai) (1986)

Gosha’s manical samurai film loaded with femme fatales and insane officials. This may come as a shock to the fans of Gosha’s 1960’s samurai classics, but should find fans of its own. The visual look is jaw droppingly colourful. The fight choreography isn’t exceptionally good but features some originality.

[HungFist]

I'm still in the middle of viewing the Wild Side Video dvds and HK Video's final Gosha set. I'll probably review them at a later date. Same with Animeigo's The Wolves.

Yesterday I came across great news. Out of Gosha's 24 films 23 have been released remastered. The one missing was The Four Days of Snow and Blood, which was only available on Panorama HK dvd (most likely very poor quality). But it's seems that's gonna chage soon:


- February 25, 2009
- amazon.co.jp/226-DVD-%E4%BA%...

[oldeschool17]

Awesome thread. Sorry to interrupt, but i have to say i was rather pleased with The Wolves as a movie. Dont know how the videophile purists view its transfer but it was fine on my crt. Dont remember if it was progressive or not

[HungFist]

Thanks. The Wolves is one of the films I haven't had time to watch yet, but I've heard many people say it's great.

[oldeschool17]

Its by no means a masterpiece, but its a solid entry in the classic yakuza genre. Great shots of the peninsula,a rather dark and gritty view into the underworld, and simple yet realistic fighting. Well done movie overall.

Any recommendations on where to purchase these HK Videos?
Just to clarify, but do the HK Video versions have english subs? Im aware of the non-removable french subs

[HungFist]

No subs on the HK Video dvds. The French subs are non-removable, but not burnt in. Some advanced players may be able to turn them off.

France has always been a bit difficult country to import from as there aren't so many alternatives. Amazon.fr is one but I haven't used them for years (this was because at least back then there was slight compability problems with my visa electron). Nowadays I use asia-diffusion. They have pretty heavy shipping charges, so it's a good idea to make one big order rather than several smaller ones. The website is in French only, but it's easy to navigate through. You can write to their customer support in english in case of any problems.

[oldeschool17]

Thanks for the info

[HungFist]

Beaver reviews Animeigo's The Geisha:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews44/geisha.htm

They've got the wrong poster attached to their review, though. So don't expect a yakuza epic, because that's Kirûin Hanako no shôgai.

[HungFist]

Here's some posts from another thread:

I have Cash calls Hell sitting in my to-watch pile for ages now.
Hung, you know my tastes to a certain degree so give me something to make me get off my arse and watch it.

My top 5 for Gosha-

1.Violent Streets-"The Big 4" is deceiving.Bunta has an awesome cameo but Tetsuro Tamba has about as much time in this as he does in
Blackmail is My Life.
More of a Noburo Ando/Akira Kobayashi vehicle and damn do they shine.
If the mambo esque opening doesn't suck you in Noburo Ando sticking a broken bottle in to a guy's face within the first 10 minutes should do it.

2.Three Outlaw Samurai- Seen this once and it is just perfectly done.
I'm a pretty big Tamba fan so this was a no brainer.
Good to see him play a good guy for a change.

3.Samurai Wolf- Fun little romp.

4.Samurai Wolf 2- Better action but still a followup so it's doesn't really cover any new territory.

5.Goyokin- WTH is wrong with me Hung?Tatsuya Nakadai and Tetsuro Tamba, two top ten actors for me and of course Gosha.
How could I not really get in to this one?
I just didn't find any of it engaging.Makes the top 5 on account of the fact i've only seen 5 of Gosha's movies total.

Sorry I couldn't expand on some of these more but I haven't watched them in a bit.

**

I finally watched Cash Calls Hell hf!

I'm gonna rewatch Violent Streets again before I decide but it may be my new number one Gosha.
I'll keep it as a tie for now.

Someone needs to upload the trailer for Cash Calls Hell to youtube.
One of the best i've ever seen and I don't really go gaga over them or generally care if their present or not.

I haven't seen Sword of the Beast but I remember people grumbling about the transfer when the criterion dvd came out so you may wanna look around for caps first.

**

@Hung:
19 Gosha films, you say... all with acceptable (and sometimes great) transfers and proper french subtitles...

Where should a Gosha newbie like me start?
What is (in your opinion) Gosha's best film? (among the ones that have been released in France)

**

@Hung:
Where should a Gosha newbie like me start?
What is (in your opinion) Gosha's best film? (among the ones that have been released in France)

Well, start with 3 outlaw samurais. Anyway, there's nothing bad between 1963-1971. But his best movie, available soon in France is Hitokiri (and I guess The Wolves).

By the way, some caps of Hitokiri (and his beautiful new print) :

(1024x576)







(found here)

**

Welcome izo. Excellent first post.

Lets see, I'll try to put the Gosha's I've seen into some sort of order.

1. Cash Calls Hell (b/w crime / noir) ****½
2. Violent Streets (ultra stylish and -violent yakuza film) ****½
3. Goyokin (great, great samurai film set in snowy northern Japan) ****
4. Three Outlaw Samurai (b/w samurai adventure) ****
5. Samurai Wolf (b/w samurai spaghetti western) ****
6. Samurai Wolf 2 (same as above) ****
7. Hunter in the Dark (dark, late 70's samurai filled with sex and violence) ****
8. Sword of the Beast (dark b/w samurai film) ***½
9. Bandit vs Samurai Squad (same as Hunter) ***½
10. Tange Sazen: The Secret of the Urn (samurai adventure) ***½
11. Kagero (new old school yakuza/gambler film) ***

+ Death Shadows (unable to rate it at the moment. I loved it once, but I'm not sure how well my opinion holds. The film is a bit... no, take that back... totally, crazy)

+ Oil Hell Murder yet, which I haven't watched yet. I'm waiting for subs to appear (I've heard they're in the works)

For a beginner I would probably recommend Three Outlaw Samurai and Goyokin, and Violent Streets if you'd like to try something more violent.

[HungFist]

Wild Side Video releases

Wild Side Video released Goyokin originally in 2003 (2 disc edition), and then later a few times again with different package (first 1 disc edition pocket and then 2 disc with a white cover art). In 2008 6 more films followed. Below are the cover arts.

Hitokiri (Tenchu), Tokyo Bordello, Kirûin Hanako no shôgai


Yokiro (The Geisha), Oar (Kai), Wives of the Yakuza


Goyokin: 2 Disc, 1 Disc, 2 Disc re-release

[HungFist]

Goyokin (1969)

This masterful samurai film set in the snowy Hokkaido was the first Japanese film shot in Panavision. The film stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Tetsuro Tamba and Isao Natsuyagi. Originally Toshiro Mifune was also casted, but apparently grueling conditions were too much for the legend and he was replaced by Kinnosuke Nakamura.

Wild Side’s dvds (there’s quite a few releases with differing extras and packaging, but I would assume the transfer is the same) feature a rather solid progressive transfer. It’s a bit blue at times, but otherwise good. The french subtitles are optional. The 1 disc release extras are limited to excellent photo galleries, filmographies and introduction for the film by Julien Seveon. The 2 Disc releases (which I don’t own) should feature at least a load of interviews and other bonuses.















A few extra captures that you can compare to dvdbeaver R1 captures:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v716/ ... kinWS8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v716/ ... kinWS9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v716/ ... inWS10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v716/ ... inWS11.jpg

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReview ... review.htm

[HungFist]

Hitokiri (Tenchu) (1969)

Considered one of the greatest samurai films ever made – and for a reason – Hitokiri is a brutal and realistic, yet beautiful and compassionate story of a samurai (Shintaro Katsu) who blindly tries to please his master (Tatsuya Nakadai). Shintaro Katsu stars in one of the best roles of his career. Gosha has wisely opted to use a lot of close ups of his face. Cult poet and filmmaker Yukio Mishima co-stars.

Wild Side’s work is clearly superior to HK Video’s transfers. The film shows its age, but who says a 40 year old movie isn’t allowed to look a bit aged? A pleasing, edge enhancement free transfer. Extras consist of a documentary (52 min), interviews (27 min), picture gallery and filmography. The bonus features are all found on disc 2, and feature burnt in French subtitles. The film itself features removable French subtitles.















Disc and extras

[HungFist]

Kiryuin Hanako no shogai (1982)

After the samurai spectacles Bandit vs. Samurai Squad (1978) and Hunter in the Dark (1979) Hideo Gosha took a few year break from silver screen. In 1982 he returned with this massive massive gangster family biopic based on a novel by Tomiko Miyao. Kiryuin Hanako no shogai would also start a new period in Gosha’s career. While his old films featured only small female roles, now the women would get more room and become the central characters the films.

Kiryuin Hanako no shogai follows the life of a girl (Masako Natsume from Shinji Somai’s Gyoei no mure) adopted by a yakuza godfather (maniacal Tatsuya Nakadai). Gosha stumbles a bit in the beginning – and also included a rather nasty dog fight scene – but the pic gains incredible depth during its 140 minute running time. Nakadai, whose Al Pacino influenced performance is hit and miss but certainly enjoyable, attempts to steal the show constantly.

Another solid transfer (even if a notch dark) that makes you wish all the Gosha films had gone to Wild Side. Extras include interviews (14 min), more interviews (another 14 min), filmography, trailer and photo gallery.

[HungFist]

HK Video will be re-releasing Violent Streets and Tange Sazen: The Secret of the Urn next week. These films are from the first Gosha box set. They haven't been available separately before. The (excellent) Samurai Wolf films are still only available in the box set.

http://www.asia-diffusion.com/new/dvd.php?id_dvd=4783
http://www.asia-diffusion.com/new/dvd.php?id_dvd=4784

[HungFist]

Yokiro (The Geisha) (1983)

The winner of 9 Japanese Academy Awards. Hideo Gosha’s period film set in the 1930’s proves that Japanese and American film academy think alike. It’s a technically well done and good looking film, with melodramatic story of two geishas and a man affecting to both of their lives, all done in somewhat operatic style. Gosha, who once directed most cutting edge Japanese cinema, now seems more keen on subtle quality filmmaking that should please the critics. Ken Ogata, as expected, does brilliant work in the leading male role. The film is based on a novel by Tomiko Miyao.

Yokiro is one of the few Gosha films released on R1. You can find caps from beaver. The dvdtalk review also features a cap where subtitles display additional notes that help the dumb viewer to understand the film’s plot. On the positive side the disc allows you to choose between yellow and white subtitles. Extras appear to be limited to Image Gallery, Text Notes and Trailers.

The French Wild Side dvd is really quite nice. The progressive transfer looks great and free of any edge enhancement. Extras feature photo gallery (45 photos), trailer (2:55), Gosha filmography, and 14 minutes of interviews with the filmmakers. Note that the dvd case – like many other Wild Side covers – states incorrect running time. The film runs 138 min (case says 144 min, which is the NTSC running time).















And a few caps for beaver comparison:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/S ... ocomp3.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/S ... rocomp.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/S ... ocomp2.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/S ... ocomp1.jpg

[diceman]

Goyokin (1969)

This masterful samurai film set in the snowy Hokkaido was the first Japanese film shot in Panavision. The film stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Tetsuro Tamba and Isao Natsuyagi. Originally Toshiro Mifune was also casted, but apparently grueling conditions were too much for the legend and he was replaced by Kinnosuke Nakamura.

Thanks for the review. Just today I gave some thought on what Hideo Gosha movies I have to see (haven't watched anything by him yet), and among "Violent Streets" (1974) "Goyokin" also popped my mind. The snow-setting looks really unique and impressive, and it seems like the US-DVD isn't too bad, either.

[HungFist]

Kai (1985)

Hideo Gosha’s third adaptation of a Tomiko Miyao novel (the previous two being Kiruyin Hanako no shogai and Yokiro) is perhaps his most succesfull. While the earlier films were somewhat uneven, Kai remains very consistent in quality throughout. Ken Ogata plays the leading male role – a well doing but somewhat small time dealer in women trade - but once again it’s the female characters who form the film’s core. Yukiyo Toake is excellent as Ogata’s wife who slowly grows tired of his husbad who does what he wishes. The storyline certainly has a melodramatic undertone – and Gosha has sometimes gone wrong with his ”suffering women” scenarios – but Kai abstains from bigger emotional bursts.

The most important factor behind the success is the excellent acting from the entire leading cast. A slight exception might be Mikio Narita – an action film villain actor that Gosha insisted using in his films despite Narita not quite being in the same league with Gosha’s other regular cast. In Kai, whoever, his make-up assisted appearance as a grumpy old yakuza boss work as a slight relief in an otherwise drama heavy feature, which could maybe be called ”women’s cinema”.

Another nice transfer from Wild Side Video. There’s some scenes that appear a bit soft, and sometimes the encoding seems less that perfect, but it’s not much of a problem. As a whole this is much more pleasing work than what HK Video ever did. Extras feature Gosha filmography, photo gallery, original trailer and an excellent 15 minute interview with the filmmakers.













Mikio Narita with moustache. 1970's comedy actor Tonpei Hidari (Delinquent Girl Boss, Truck Yaro) on the left.

[HungFist]

Wives of the Yakuza (Gokudo no onnatachi) (1986)

Hideo Gosha marries his ”women cinema” with modern yakuza film in a movie based on Shoko Ieda’s novel. Unfortunately this is a rather lazy effort from the director. The basic idea is not bad, though. The film follows yakuza wives, most of them now heads of their families as the husband is either dead or in jail. Two sisters - a leader of the most powerful crime organization in the area (Shima Iwashita), and a ”normal girl” living with his father and trying to stay clean (Rino Katase) - are in the spotlight. Instead of going into action mode Gosha gives a somewhat realistic view of their normal life; relationships, sunny beaches, karaoke… and clan wars. But the characters are ultimately not very interesting, and nor is the storyline. The concept was nevertheless a success, and numerous sequels followed.

Extras include interviews (15 min, most of it Mark Schilling aka in English!), more interviews (another 15 min), filmography, trailer and photo gallery

[HungFist]

Yoshiwara enjo (1987)

High class prostitutes love, suffer, and fight each other in Hideo Gosha’s drama set in the Yoshiwara pleasure district in the early 20th century. The beginning is quite good and interesting, but after the first half an hour the storyline starts following overly familiar rails that don’t even function well. The character fates and the director’s vision are no doubt historically accurate, but often predictable and frustrating to follow on screen. Also, as typical for 1980’s Gosha films, Yoshiwara enjo runs well over two hours and in this case it’s too much.

The cinematography and visual design - which was inspired by Shinichi Saito’s paintings - work, though; a lot of time the film looks gorgeous. The ending is also very impressive, as is the huge replication of the Yoshiwara district built just for the making of this movie. Yûko Natori, whose role is partly well written, fares quite decently in the lead role. Gosha’s regular star Ken Ogata has a small and rather unnecessary supporting role.

A couple of scenes display a vertical line in the picture. Otherwise this Wild Side release looks terrific. Extras feature filmography, photo gallery and interviews that run 15 min. Perhaps it should be noted here that despite the fact that almost all interviews on these Wild Side discs have the same running time (15 min), they are not the same feature but different interviews on each disc.

[HungFist]

Some screencaptures from the extras

Art director Yoshinobu Nishioka


Shinichi Saito's paintings


Film vs an old postcard picture of real Yoshiwara


More interesting pictures shown during the interview