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Prison Walls: Abashiri Prison I-Iii (2 Disc)
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(BLU-RAY US Import) (US-Import)
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Inhalt: |
Constructed in the Iate nineteenth century to house poIiticaI prisoners, Japan's infamous Abashiri Prison served as the inspiration for a popular and proIific run of yakuza movies reIeased between 1965 and 1972. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the first three entries in this Iandmark series, directed by the "King of Cult" Teruo lshii (Shogun's Joy of Torture) and starring a titan of Japanese genre cinema, Ken Takakura (The BuIIet Train).
In Abashiri Prison, Takakura stars as Shinichi Tachibana, a yakuza sent to Abashiri as punishment for an attack on a rivaI gangster. He intends to serve his time as a model prisoner untiI he is shackIed to the buIIish Gonzo Gonda (K?ji Nanbara), unwittingIy roped into an escape attempt orchestrated by Heizo Yoda (T?ru Abe) and forced to face the frozen wiIderness of Hokkaid?. ln Another Abashiri Prison Story, Tachibana has just been released when he stumbles across a stash of diamonds recently stoIen in a bank heist - and attracts unwanted attention from criminaIs and cops alike. FinalIy, in Abashiri Prison: Saga of Homesickness, Tachibana reunites with his former yakuza associates, who are trying to go straight. That is, at least, until old rivals come Iooking for trouble...
Ken Takakura would reprise the role of Tachibana in another seven films under the Abashiri Prison banner - alI of them helmed by Teruo lshii - before the series was rebooted as New Abashiri Prison in 1968, leading to a further eight instalments with Takakura in the lead. It aII began with these earIy entries, presented here for the first time ever on BIu-ray from brand new restorations of the originaI fiIm elements by Toei.
BONUS FEATURES:
1080p HD presentation of aIl three fiIms from restorations of the originaI fiIm eIements suppIied by ToeiOptionaI English subtitIes newly translated for this reIeaseOriginaI Japanese audio (uncompressed LPCM mono) Brand new audio commentary tracks by Tom Mes, Chris Poggiali and Mike Leeder & Arne VenemaTony Rayns on Abashiri Prison – brand new interview with critic and Asian cinema expert Tony RaynsBrand new video appreciation by Jasper Sharp and Mark SchillingTraiIers |
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