The presently private investigator and real-estate agent Harry Kilmer (Robert Mitchum) is bonded to Japan culture. In the end of World War II, he was assigned to stay in Tokyo, and meanwhile he felt in love with the Japanese woman Eiko Tanaka (Keiko Kishi). In 1949, her Yakuza brother Ken Tanaka (Ken Takakura), who was missing in action in Philippines, returns to Japan. Harry proposes to marry Eiko, who is also in love with him, but she does not accept his proposal. With a broken heart, Harry decides to return to United States of America. He borrows some money from his close friend George Tanner (Brian Keith), buys a small restaurant for Eiko and her baby daughter, and returns to his home country. After several years, his friend George asks Harry to return to Japan with his bodyguard Dusty (Richard Jordan) to rescue his daughter, who was kidnapped by a Yakuza family, due to a weapon business. While in Tokyo and Kyoto, many revelations are disclosed to Harry about his close friends. Last Friday, I bought 'The Yakuza' on VHS, following the recommendation of my movie-lover friend Adalberto Rodrigues. I have just watched it and I found this melancholic movie a masterpiece about code of honor, tradition, love and betrayal. The story and screenplay are spectaculars, the direction is superb, the performances are overwhelming and the locations and photography are stunning. The plot has drama, romance and action in right doses. Indeed, I found 'The Yakuza' a perfect must-see film. I do not know how this movie remains unknown for worldwide viewers (there are just a few votes in IMDb) and why it has not been released on DVD. My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): 'Operação Yakuza' ('Yakuza Operation')
Title (Brazil): 'Operação Yakuza' ('Yakuza Operation')