Arrow Video seems to be the only company making certain that
the films of Japanese director Seijun Suzuki don’t get lost or forgotten.
Having released compilations of his films they now are offering this film,
DETECTIVE BUREAU 2-3: GO TO HELL BASTARDS. Strangely enough the 2-3 doesn’t
designate a series of films and to my knowledge this was the only film featuring
these characters. That doesn’t matter as the one here offers plenty of action
and humor.
The movie stars Jô Shishido as Hideo Tajima, a swinging
private detective who stumbles into a case he can make money from. The film
opens with a shipment of US guns hijacked by a yakuza gang who slaughters the
gang they’re stealing them from. Claiming he can go places where the police
can’t he gets them to employ him and goes undercover to find the stolen guns
and round up the gang.
To get to this point he first must help a captured yakuza
member waiting to be transported or released. Unfortunately a rival yakuza gang
learns of his whereabouts and is waiting outside the jail armed with samurai
swords. Why the police can’t round up enough to take out the gang is beyond me
so maybe there’s something lost in translation here. Suffice to say Hideo
rescues the man who takes him under his wing as well as to his employers.
While this man is trusting the gang leader is not. Using his
own sources inside the police he finds that Hideo is not an officer but that
still doesn’t convince him. Hideo doesn’t reveal himself hoping to be led to
the top man of the outfit rather than capture those lower on the crime rungs of
this crime ladder. Working his way into the group he’s aided by two staff
members back in his office, comedy relief for the film and a singer he knows
who is working in a club the gang goes to.
Made in 1963 the film switches back and forth from one kind
or movie to another with ease. At points it feels like a crime drama, others a
police procedural and then suddenly a comedy. The thing is it actually works
making the movie an entertainment treat. Even a segment that finds Hideo forced
to perform a song in a nightclub comes off well.
Suzuki had an extensive career cut short for time after he
sued Nikkatsu studios for wrongful termination. He’s since been rediscovered by
fans and Arrow has helped those fans immensely with their releases of his films
including this one. The film looks marvelous here with a high definition
transfer that’s gorgeous. In addition to that they’ve included several extras
for fans to enjoy including an interview with historian and Japanese cinema
expert Tony Rayns, a gallery of production stills, the original theatrical
trailer and a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly created artwork by
Matthew Griffin.
My guess is that this film is not something most in the US
have seen or even heard of. For that matter it might be that they’re unaware of
Suzuki and his films either. This is a nice spot to jump on board though and
discover the cinema of sixties Japan. DVDs and blu-rays have offered movie fans
the opportunity to revisit some fantastic films from the past and from other
countries. Arrow has made sure that we’re being offered those films in the best
way possible. This is one that fans of movies like the Matt Helm films made in
the states might find some fun with. I know I did.
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