GAME OF CHANCE
(Rokyoku komori-uta)
Year: 1965
Director: Ryuichi Takamori
Studio: Toei
Cast: Sonny Chiba, Toru Abe, Kenji Imai, Hiroyuki Shimosawa and Michiko Saga
Time: 95 minutes
Format: Black & White, wide screen, Japanese Language with English subtitles
Special Features: Previews (super long previews - a smorgasbord of films that include Bunta, Wakayama, Ninkyo, Jitsuroku, C. Kataoka, Riki Takeuchi, VCinema and a sleugh of other treats.), Info on Kurotokagi.
Where to buy:
http://kurotokagigumi.com/
Cost: $15 plus shipping
My earliest Sonny Chiba film experience goes back to two films he did in 1970. It was the films "Yakuza Deka I & Yakuza Deka II: The Assassin". It is easy to spot the intensity, gruff, hardcore, body ripping bad ass that we associate with him throughout his 1970's career. When I dream (uhh...I mean think) of Sonny Chiba, I think of him hamming it up for the cameras with over-the-top facial expressions and pounding some poor schmo's ass to the ground. This 1965 film is staright up Ninkyo. Ninkyo?! No karate, kung-fu, chin-chang-chung or any kick ass martial arts we correlate Chiba with. Is that a bad thing? Did you really think that? Do I like asking no one questions and talking to myself? Am I bi-polar? I really like questions marks???
Ball-park story: Moving along....Bungo (Sonny Chiba) works in a quarry moving stone. He watches his son Kenichi while working. One night, his drunken boss annoys Bungo by trying to wake his kid from a nap and in the end, he pops his boss in the eye. Bungo is fired and left to scrape a living doing remedial work. Desperate for loot, Bungo resorts to his old trade as a cheating dice dealer. Late one night, Bungo has an innkeeper take his son to meet him at a train station while he attends a local gambling parlor. At the gambling den, he is caught cheating and chased in the streets by yakuza thugs. He meets his son on the train but thugs have found him. Defending his son and himself, Chiba jumps from the train to escape his attackers. On foot, the two head for Asakusa, Tokyo, a place they both fled before.
Knowing the hardships his son will endure by staying with him, Bungo decides to see his ex-wife, hoping that she will be able to take care of him. In the meantime, the two stay at the Kizaki Family's establishment, where Bungo works his trade in cheating. Impressed by his skill, Boss Kizaki (Toru Abe) has no desire to see his cash cow leave. When Bungo finally visits his ex-wife Shiho, things are sour between the two. Kizaki's second (Kenji Imai) spies on the venomous meeting and informs Boss Kizaki to use the boy as a negotiation piece. They also know that Shiho is Boss Kumata's woman now and his gang is still in search of Bungo. Kenichi is kidnapped by Boss Kumata's gang, and finally meets his tear-jerked mother, although she never reveals herself to him. As she looks for more toys or food for him, Kenichi wanders off and meets Teruko. She is immediately smitten with the charming little boy. She takes care of him as Bungo is out sorting his affairs.
Bungo is followed and ambushed by Kumata members. During the conflict, he kills one of the members. Hearing the news, Boss Kizaki confronts Boss Kumata and both want Bungo dead. Boss Kizaki has Bungo role one last dice game before he acknowledges his obligation to the Kazaki Family's hospitality. During the game, Bungo notices Kizaki member's readying their blades and asks the customers to excuse themselves. Realizing he's been betrayed and setup by Boss Kizaki, Bungo has to protect his son and fight both the Kizaki & Kumata gangs who want death.
My 2-cents: Made in 1965, this film reminds me of a mix between another Kurotokagi release "Honor Among Brothers" and any of the various Ninkyo yakuza eiga's featuring Ken Takakura. Actually, Sonny Chiba and Game of Chance is a poor man's Ken Takakura ninkyo eiga. Now, I'm not taking anything away from Sonny Chiba's performance in this film (which is surprising excellent). I was very impressed by Chiba's acting range and chops in a ninkyo yakuza role. Unfortunately there is only one king of the honorable and loyal ninkyo yakuza genre and Sonny is not the poster boy (that title belongs to Mr. Takakura - to me anyway).
The story isn't unique, not that you'll find much uniqueness in the genre, but it flows well in its 95 minute span. I haven't had the pleasure of watching Sonny Chiba's earlier performances such as his Sci-Fi films (The Golden Bat & Iron Sharp to name a few...also released by Kurotokagi), early detective stories or bit roles, but he is a solid actor. I must admit, I always viewed Chiba as an Athlete turned Actor, as opposed to someone who was schooled in the field. To me he was an Action star, whose acting matched his intensity, but never oscar worthy. Now, I'm not saying this role is oscar worthy but he does a fantastic job, less any Chiba-esque aggressiveness, unpredictability, unscrupulous, violent bad ass shit a la "The Streetfighter" series or "Battles without Honor & Humanity II".
The only minor downside (if you can call it that) to the film is it is very "ninkyo". By that, I mean we don't get to see that hammy action that Chiba produces. Instead, he is handcuffed to the ninkyo format, so that the action really only comes till the end with some scattered scenes here and there. The film is pretty much Chiba and the kid. The other actors do a fine job as the supporting cast, especially the tear-jerking moments with the mother. They were many moments when I actually turned into a puddle. I am such a closet-sissy when it comes to "tender" moments and their's plenty between Bungo, Shiho and Kenichi. The ending had me grabbing the tissue box. Thankfully I watch these films alone. Toru Abe and Kenji Imai play their usual bad self. You'll see some other recognizible faces from the Ninkyo / Jitsuroku yakuza eiga's that follow in the late 60's / 70's. They are always fun to watch dying. All in all, it was a fun film to watch and I'd recommend it to anyone who is a ninkyo admirer and a sell-your-arm-to-get-it for Chiba fan's.
Seeing & Hearing: The DVD is sharp and clear. The subtitles are legible and on point. The sound is tip-top. I don't know what else to say about the DVD, there is nothing wrong with it. An excellent transfer, you're not going to see better anywhere else. If you don't feel the same way, you're a picky bastard.
GAME OF CHANCE
