About the Film
An early ninkyo film from before the genre had truly established its form. Koji Tsuruta plays an honourable outlaw who saves an older man from an ambush. It turns out the man is the head of a hard working clan appointed to a railway construction project. A ruthless yakuza gang is also trying to get their share of the project and attempts to sabotage the work. After the old man dies, his son (Sonny Chiba) and daughter (Junko Fuji) try to complete the project. Tsuruta joins them while also falling in love with a local woman working in a bar (after all, Tsuruta always was more of a lover than his stoic colleague Takakura).
✨ The Watchlist Wizard Verdict
The Vibe: Two Lives, Two Yakuza is a captivating and well-crafted crime and drama movie from 1964. Directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi, and starring Koji Tsuruta, Sumiko Fuji, Shigeru Amachi An early ninkyo film from before the genre had truly established its form.
Who Should Watch It: Highly recommended for general audiences and genre enthusiasts. If you enjoy movies that blends crime with drama elements, Two Lives, Two Yakuza deserves a spot on your watchlist.
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