Two lone wolf yakuza (Hideki Takahashi and Kunie Tanaka) rob a gambling den, then split up when pursued by the angry gang. They eventually meet again at Tanaka's mother's rural farmhouse. By then, one-eyed Kobayashi has wrangled his way into the scenario, intending to get a split of the proceeds (since he had helped them get away). Although there is some dissension amongst the three, they eventually close ranks to fend off their stubborn, relentless pursuers. Unhappily, Tanaka’s mother (Chieko Naniwa) is killed in the process. There are also love interests (Yoshiko Machida and Kayo Matsuo) and some humor along the way. An admirably different approach to the formulaic ninkyo yakuza programmer, filmed largely in sweltering summer countryside locations.
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Cast
11 people
Akira Kobayashi
Known for
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
Hideki Takahashi
Known for
Napping Princess
Kunie Tanaka
Known for
Battles Without Honor and Humanity
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Kayo Matsuo
Known for
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
Shogun Assassin
Shōki Fukae
Known for
A Colt is My Passport
Chieko Naniwa
Known for
Throne of Blood
Sansho the Bailiff
Hiroshi Kondō
Known for
Anatahan
Intentions of Murder
Shirō Yanase
Known for
Blind Woman's Curse
Tomoko Hamakawa
Known for
Tokyo Drifter
Yoshiko Machida
Takeshi Kuroda
Also in
OL Who Was Played
Prisoners of the Ghostland
Akinori Matsuo Director · Seiji Hoshikawa Screenplay Masayoshi Ikeda Composer
First release October 19, 1968 · Produced in Japan · Original title 三匹の悪党
Production
Nikkatsu Corporation
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
三匹の悪党
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Japan · October 19, 1968
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
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