Big Time Gambling Boss

Big Time Gambling Boss (Bakuchiuci Socho Tobaku) (1968)

Runtime: 95 minutes

Directed by: Kosaku Yamashita

Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Hiroshi Nawa, Nobuo Kaneko, Hiroko Sakuramachi

From: Toei

A talky yet eventful tragic drama about yakuza succession was actually quite engrossing to me. It was not as action-packed as some of its type (not that I've viewed that many personally) yet I was enthralled due to the drama and how it all escalated. It was on Arrow's streaming site that this was viewed; their description included praise given to it by Paul Schrader, noting how “rich” and “complex” it was. While what he currently posts on Facebook can be best described as “bizarre”, that is still worthy praise.

What a sordid tale this was. In the middle of 1930's Japan, a yakuza boss falls ill so he needed to be replaced. They voted in Nakai but he recused himself from the position as he was an outsider. Instead, he recommended Matsuda, someone in prison because he refused to rat out his comrades. They don't want to wait for release so instead appoint the boss's son in law for the position. Once Matsuda is released, he doesn't take the news well... what results is a preposterous escalation where Matsuda refuses to back down from his hardened stance against the appointment. What results is death and it was all so silly & needless. Talk about an indictment of tradition and the rigid rules of that sect.

The pacing is methodical and at times characters sit in silence, burning holes in each other w/ their stares. Such images said more than words ever could. It was a dynamic look at an insular world where among other plot points, the wives of yakuza members can play a pivotal role. I'd rather not give much else away as it is a downbeat yet compelling drama which demonstrates how “tradition” can ruin multiple lives. The cast of mostly unfamiliar faces did a swell job; it wasn't because I knew Tomisaburo Wakayama from the Lone Wolf & Cub films, but he had the flashiest and thus most memorable role. If the premise sounds like this could be your jam, I highly recommend.