Blood of Revenge
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Synopsis
Osaka, 1907. The upstart Hoshino gang tries to assassinate the boss of the Kiyatatsu syndicate, who are in charge of the construction business. The attempt fails but sets in motion a spiral of violence, as the Hoshino sabotage building sites and kill a junior Kiyatatsu member. When the old boss dies of his wounds, senior lieutenant Kikuchi (Koji Tsuruta, Big Time Gambling Boss) decides to take on the Hoshino gang alone. Director Tai Kato’s first yakuza film is a feast for the eyes, with bold set design, vivid colours and daring shot compositions bringing to life a timeless tale of honour and vengeance. Co-written by Red Peony Gambler creator Norifumi Suzuki and featuring a stunning central performance from Tsuruta, this is one of the finest of Toei’s classic “chivalrous” yakuza films.
Picture 8/10
Radiance presents Tai Kato’s Blood of Revenge on Blu-ray, delivering the film on a dual-layer disc in the aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The 1080p/24hz presentation is sourced from a master supplied by Toei.
That’s all the details around the master that Radiance is using, and from that I would typically expect an older master, but looking at this one, if it is an older master, it’s one of the better ones I have seen to come from Toei specifically.
Overall, it’s quite pleasing. Restoration efforts have cleaned up nearly all visible damage, save for a few stray marks that crop up here and there with subtle shifts in the frame on occasion, and definition is generally solid. Grain is present to a degree, though it seems to have been slightly managed, which may account for an ever-so-slight haze that lingers over the picture much of the time. That softness could also be inherent to the original materials, or perhaps a combination of both.
Colors fare surprisingly well. Earthy tones dominate, but saturation is solid, and blues and reds can come off fairly vibrant when they appear. Black levels are stable, with respectable shadow detail that allows darker sequences to deliver decent depth.
There’s nothing here that stands out, admittedly, but the presentation ultimately proves quite nice and is certainly stronger than I was expecting going in.
Blood of Revenge - Screen Captures
Audio 6/10
The film comes with a lossless PCM single-channel monaural soundtrack. It’s not a particularly showy mix, but it’s clean and effective when it needs to be, delivering a respectable amount of range between the score and bursts of action. Dialogue comes through clearly throughout, and there are no noticeable issues with damage or distortion.
Extras 4/10
Supplements are fairly slim, with only a couple of short on-disc features. The first is a new piece by Mark Schilling on actor Junko Fuji, offering a brisk overview of her career, including her semi-retirement in the 1970s, her time as a daytime talk show host, and her resurgence as an actor beginning in 1989, with the film Buddies. Interestingly, despite it being a relatively small role, Fuji has cited her performance as Hatsue in Blood of Revenge as her favorite, noting how different it was from her more familiar screen persona. At 15 minutes it’s brief, but it works as a solid retrospective.
More fun, however, is Tai Kato’s 1943 wartime propaganda/educational short Lice Are Scary, which runs 14 minutes. It opens with what appears to be a government authority storming through an area, shouting that everything must be cleaned to prevent lice and a typhus outbreak, with several locals dismissing the warnings as a nuisance. Naturally, things go poorly for them when they’re attacked by animated lice, who feast on their blood and spread typhus germs, leading to grim consequences. Though framed as an "educational" film (complete with explanations of how to eradicate infestations) it takes a sharp propagandistic turn, likening lice to U.S. and U.K. enemies who must likewise be destroyed. The comparison arrives so abruptly that it’s hard not to chuckle. In other words, it’s unexpectedly entertaining and a fantastic inclusion. (The presentation is in rough condition and appears to be sourced from a standard-definition master.)
The limited edition also includes a booklet featuring an essay by Earl Jackson, which explores the film’s characters and themes before turning to actor Koji Tsuruta and his most devoted admirer, Yukio Mishima. This is followed by an essay by Yoji Ishizuka (translated by Tom Mes) that examines the film’s structure and Kato’s direction, situating it within Toei’s broader yakuza output of the period.
Yes, it’s a slim selection overall, but I enjoyed working my way through everything included here.
Closing
Not a lavish release, but it offers a solid presentation and a couple of worthwhile features.
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