The Yakuza
Directed by	Sydney Pollack
Produced by	Michael Hamilburg Sydney Pollack
Written by	Leonard Schrader Paul Schrader Robert Towne
Starring	Robert Mitchum Ken Takakura
Music by	Dave Grusin
Cinematography	{{{cinematography}}}
Editing by	{{{editing}}}
Distributed by	Warner Brothers
Released	March 1975
Running time	123 min.
Language	English and Japanese
Budget	{{{budget}}}
Preceded by	{{{preceded_by}}}
Followed by	{{{followed_by}}}
IMDb profile

"A man never forgets. A man pays his debts"

A powerful film written by Paul Schrader and Robert Towne and directed by Sydney Pollack, The Yakuza takes an in depth look at Japan as seen from western eyes. Image File history File links Theyakuza. ... Sydney Pollack (born July 1, 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana) is an American actor, producer, and director. ... Paul Schrader (born 22 July 1946 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a screenwriter and film director, renowned for his characters that fall into desperation while their world crumbles around them. ... Towne in the 1960 movie Last Woman on Earth Robert Towne (born November 23, 1934) is an American actor, screenwriter and director. ... Robert Mitchum in Cape Fear Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an accomplished American film actor and singer. ... Ken Takakura (高倉健) (Born 16 February 1931, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan) A Japanese actor best known for his brooding style and the stoic yet honorable presence he bring to his roles. ... David Grusin (born June 26, 1934 in Littleton, Colorado) is a jazz pianist, composer, and arranger whose works in films and TV have garnered him numerous awards. ... Warner Bros. ... See also: 1974 in film 1975 1976 in film 1970s in film years in film film // Events January 28 - George Lucas creates the second draft of what would eventually become Star Wars. ... Paul Schrader (born 22 July 1946 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a screenwriter and film director, renowned for his characters that fall into desperation while their world crumbles around them. ... Towne in the 1960 movie Last Woman on Earth Robert Towne (born November 23, 1934) is an American actor, screenwriter and director. ... Sydney Pollack (born July 1, 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana) is an American actor, producer, and director. ...

A big step forward from previous American films based in Japan, most notably Marlon Brando's The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) which cast Brando in "yellowface" as the Japanese character "Sakini" and Sayonara (1957), featuring Ricardo Montalban as the Japanese character "Nakamura". Marlon Brando, Jr. ... The Teahouse of the August Moon is a 1956 motion picture comedy satirising the US occupation of Japan following the end of World War II. John Patrick adapted the screenplay from his own Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning Broadway play of 1953. ... See also: 1955 in film 1956 1957 in film 1950s in film years in film film // Events November 15 - The film Love Me Tender starring Elvis Presley (his first film) opens. ... Sayonara is a 1957 film which tells the story of an American soldier during the Korean War. ... See also: 1956 in film 1957 1958 in film 1950s in film years in film film // Events October 21 - The movie Jailhouse Rock, starring Elvis Presley, opens. ... Ricardo Montalban (born November 25, 1920 in Mexico City) is a television and film actor. ...

Warner Bros paid Paul and his brother Leonard the then record sum of $325,000.00 USD for their debut story which would provide Paul his break into Hollywood and go on to pen the Scorcese classics Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980). Robert Aldrich was originally pegged to direct but Robert Mitchum, who had worked with Aldrich on the dismal The Angry Hills (1959), had him replaced by Pollack. The WB Shield, used from 2001 to late 2003. ... This article is about general United States currency. ... Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. ... Martin Scorsese (born November 17, 1942 in Queens, New York, USA) is an American film director. ... Taxi Driver is a 1976 American motion picture drama directed by Martin Scorsese. ... See also: 1975 in film 1976 1977 in film 1970s in film years in film film Events March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas Star Wars science fiction film. ... Raging Bull is a 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese, and written by Paul Schrader, and Mardik Martin. ... See also: 1979 in film 1980 1981 in film 1970s in film 1980s in film years in film film // Events April 30 - The Roger Daltrey film, McVicar, opens in London. ... Robert Aldrich (August 9, 1918 – December 5, 1983) was a United States film director, writer and producer notable for a number of films including What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte, and The Dirty Dozen. ... Robert Mitchum in Cape Fear Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an accomplished American film actor and singer. ... See also: 1958 in film 1959 1960 in film 1950s in film 1960s in film years in film film Events The Three Stooges make their 180th and last short film, Sappy Bullfighters. ...

Though now dated, "The Yakuza" remains a rich and poignant look at Japan during its transition from its role in the war and the US occupation to the economic powerhouse of the 1980s. Its influences can be seen in contemporary movies such Black Rain (1989), Brother (2001), Kill Bill (2004) and Into the Sun (2005). Flag of Imperial Japan The Empire of Japan (: 大日本帝國; Shinjitai: 大日本帝国; pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku) commonly refers to Japan from the Meiji Restoration until the end of World War II. Politically, it covers the period from the enforced establishment of prefectures in place of feudal domains (廃藩置県; Hai-han Chi-ken) in July... // Surrender Representatives of Japan stand aboard the USS Missouri prior to signing of the Instrument of Surrender Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 14, 1945, when Emperor Hirohito accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Black Rain is the title of several works of fiction. ... See also: 1988 in film, other events of 1989, 1990 in film, list of years in film. // Events Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia for $20 million. ... Brother is a 2001 film starring, written, and directed by Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2001. ... Kill Bill is the fourth feature film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, and stars Uma Thurman. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2004. ... Only one man can stop the Yakuza When the governor of Tokyo is murdered, the CIA taps their local operative, Travis Hunter, to look into it. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2005. ...

Synopsis

"The Yakuza" is an often underrated film starring Robert Mitchum as Harry Kilmer, a World War II veteran with a questionable past who was stationed in Japan during the US occupation. Asked by Army buddy George Tanner (Brian Keith) to help him find his kidnapped daughter, Kilmer returns to Japan and is reunited with his former love Eiko (Keiko Kishi), and her brother and yakuza mobster, Ken Tanaka (Takakura Ken). Robert Mitchum in Cape Fear Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an accomplished American film actor and singer. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... Brian Keith (November 14, 1921 - June 24, 1997) was an American stage, film and television actor. ... Kishi Keiko (岸惠子, born 11 August 1932 in Yokohama, Japan) is an actress. ... This article may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to be clearer. ... Ken Takakura (高倉健) is one of the biggest actors in Japan. ...

Pollack takes us through the shadowy Japanese underworld and attempts to explain the Japanese concept of giri or obligation through the traditional Tanaka and his American counterparts Kilmer and Tanner. Kilmer learns the cost of such a debt as he acts on Tanner's behalf and taps former rival Tanaka for assistance in seeking Tanner's daughter.

Takakura is spectacular, featuring his famous austere manner and paving the way for his roles in the American films Black Rain and Mr. Baseball (1992), giving the already locally popular star international cachet while Mitchum plays the part of the rueful and determined Kilmer to a "T" in what is, arguably, the last great role of his long and distinguished career. Black Rain is a 1989 American movie starring Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Ken Takakura, Kate Capshaw, and Yusaku Matsuda. ... Mr. ... This is a list of film-related events in 1992. ...

Cast

• Robert Mitchum .... Harry Kilmer
• Ken Takakura .... Ken Tanaka
• Brian Keith .... George Tanner
• Herb Edelman .... Oliver Wheat
• Richard Jordan .... Dusty
• Keiko Kishi .... Eiko Tanaka
• Eiji Okada .... Toshiro Tono
• James Shigeta .... Goro
• Kyosuke Mashida .... Jiro Kato
• Christina Kokubo .... Hanako
• Eiji Go .... Spider
• Lee Chirillo .... Louise
• M. Hisaka .... Boyfriend
• William Ross .... Tanner's guard
• Akiyama .... Tono's guard
• Harada .... Goro's doorman

Robert Mitchum in Cape Fear Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an accomplished American film actor and singer. ... Ken Takakura (高倉健) (Born 16 February 1931, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan) A Japanese actor best known for his brooding style and the stoic yet honorable presence he bring to his roles. ... Brian Keith (November 14, 1921 - June 24, 1997) was an American stage, film and television actor. ... Herb Edelman (1932-1996) was an American actor who was noted for playing Dorothys loser ex-husband Stanley Zbornak on The Golden Girls. ... Richard Anson Jordan (July 19, 1938 – August 30, 1993) was an American stage, screen and film actor. ... Kishi Keiko (岸惠子, born 11 August 1932 in Yokohama, Japan) is an actress. ... James Shigeta (born June 17, 1933 in Hawaii) is an American film and television actor. ... William Ross is a popular name William Ross the missionary William Ross the Secretary of State for Scotland in the 1960s William Ross, a Ulster Unionist Party member of Parliament until 2001 William Ross, a Canadian politician William Ross, a fictional character from the Star Trek universe William Ross, leader... Akiyama (秋山 autumn mountain) is a Japanese surname and the name of a village in Japan. ...

References

• Leonard Schrader The novel the film is based on
• Dave Grusin insight into the soundtrack
• Film Score Monthly recently released soundtrack on CD
• Senses of Cinema an article on the screenplay
• amazon.com reviews of the film
• rottentomatoes.com reviews of the film