Eighteen Years in Prison (1967) From Radiance

[DukeTogo84]

Figured I'd create a post for this one. This is one of those Japanese films I was always surprised didn't get a DVD during the height of that era, but here we are, getting it in HD on Blu-ray.

Those that are fans of Big Time Gambling Boss will probably really enjoy this one, as it's a subtle, yet brutal tale of betrayal. It has Noboru Ando in one of his best roles, and the always great Tomisaburo Wakayama playing mostly against type as a smily prison official. It's a very well made movie, and those that have been getting on the Tai Kato train will love this. I hope it does well for Radiance, as they have been giving us some of the best 60's and 70's Japanese films.

Eighteen Years in Prison (1967) (Radiance Films)

https://diabolikdvd.com/product/eigh...-ray-preorder/

Release Date: July 30th

Trying to survive in the ruins of post-war Japan, Kawada (Noboru Ando, By a Man’s Face Shall You Know Him) and Tsukada (Asao Koike, Sympathy for the Underdog) run afoul of the military police after stealing valuable copper wire. Kawada is arrested and sent to prison, but Tsukada uses their gains to start a yakuza gang. Facing violent inmates and a cruel warden (Tomisaburo Wakayama, Big Time Gambling Boss), Kawada vows to escape and stop his former partner. Tai Kato directs this epic prison story with characteristic visual flair, while gangster-turned-actor Ando delivers a stunning performance charged with real-life gravitas. As an examination of the deep scars of wartime, this genre classic is also a clear precursor to Kinji Fukasaku’s epoch-making Battles Without Honour and Humanity series.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
High-Definition digital transfer
Uncompressed mono PCM audio
Appreciation by critic and programmer Tony Rayns (2024)
A visual essay on Japanese prison films by author Tom Mes (2024)
Original trailer
Newly translated English subtitles
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Ivo Smits and an archival interview with Noboru Ando by Mark Schilling
REGION A/B "LOCKED"

Radiance #41 Eighteen Years in Prison (Tai Kato, 1967) New Trailer - YouTube

[mclellandj]

I feel like Fran is an angel sent down to answer all your prayers. I'm legit happy for you haha.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by mclellandj

I feel like Fran is an angel sent down to answer all your prayers. I'm legit happy for you haha.

Haha. If I was a rich man and money wasn't an issue, I'd be doing exactly the same thing he's doing and for a lot of the same type of titles.

I don't think there has ever been a label that caters more to my interest in film than Radiance. A load of crime films from all over the world, and hopefully many more to come.

A lot of my most wanted titles are coming from them, but sadly Criterion has a HUGE chunk of those as well, and a good chance that most of those will never get a release.

[Zorba]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

those that have been getting on the Tai Kato train will love this.

All aboard!

[Thebunk]

Anyone see this yet or have reviews that they can point to?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Anyone see this yet or have reviews that they can point to?

I saw this year ago and loved it. My copy has shipped and should be here on Tuesday hopefully, but it's a great film.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Anyone see this yet or have reviews that they can point to?

hayley scanlon, who seems to get to see everything >

https://windowsonworlds.com/2023/06/...tai-kato-1967/

have you watched others by kato yet? i wasn't that sold on the trailer for this one, but i'm sold on his work in general.

seems to have a great ability to place multiple characters interestingly across shots, and maximise impact from what look to be cheap genre films.

i can see why he'd be picked out, amazed it wasn't earlier. who pays particular attention to retrospectives to see what's there that doesn't get noticed by this part of the market?

https://cinefiles.bampfa.berkeley.edu/catalog/27038

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture...-movie-master/

[logboy]

i've seen all three tai kato from radiance released so far.

i'm now waiting for tokijiro in august.

they're clearly cheaply made, but far better than their likely budget would suggest would be possible. amazing how well they managed to disguise how modest they are. photography is above ordinary, often finding distinctive ways to show ordinary or familiar settings. somehow i find them to be both partly dated and imaginative enough in several department to suggest these pushed for something not seen before. so, although they're now clearly old, it feels like kato was trying to go somewhere that made his work stand out when you look at the details, but it's not necessarily apparent when you try to describe broadly that they're genre films of a type.