Yakuza (1974)

Yakuza: Directed by Sydney Pollack. With Robert Mitchum, Ken Takakura, Brian Keith, Herb Edelman. American private-eye Harry Kilmer returns to Japan to rescue a friend’s kidnapped daughter from the clutches of the Yakuza.

“Superb East-meets-West movie, I suspect largely due to Schraderu0026#39;s insight. Takakura Kenu0026#39;s performance really steals the show, though all actors are more than capable; Mitchum gives a great performance again. Not a martial arts movie, but contains a katana showdown that I can watch over and over again without finding fault [more believable than anything youu0026#39;ll see in u0026#39;Kill Billu0026#39;].u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story is gorgeously convoluted, keeping itu0026#39;s secrets to the very end, in a fitting Japanese manner. Action scenes are relatively restrained, and the story tells how Mitchumu0026#39;s character finally comes to understand Takakura Kenu0026#39;s character, and his apparently icy antagonism. When can we see a DVD copy?!”