Big Time Gambling Boss: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1968
Director: Kôsaku Yamashita
Writer: Kazuo Kasahara
Cast: Kôji Tsuruta, Tomisaburô Wakayama, Hiroshi Nawa, Nobuo Kaneko, Hiroko Sakuramachi, Hideto Kagawa, Michiyo Hattori, Shin'ichirô Mikami

Release Date: January 2nd, 2023 (UK), January 17th, 2023 (USA)
Approximate running time: 94 Minutes 39 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"Tokyo, 1934. Gang boss Arakawa is too ill and a successor must be named. The choice falls on Nakai, but being an outsider he refuses and suggests senior clansman Matsuda instead. But Matsuda is in jail and the elders won’t wait for his release, so they appoint the younger and more malleable Ishido to take the reins. Clan honour and loyalties are severely tested when Matsuda is released, resulting in an increasingly violent internal strife." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Big Time Gambling Boss was transferred in high definition by Toei Company Ltd."

Big Time Gambling Boss comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.9 GB

Feature: 25.7 GB

Though most Japanese vintage films come from masters supplied by the company that owns them, the transfer for Big Time Gambling Boss is actually one of the better-looking HD transfers from Toei. That said, the source is in great shape, and any print debris is minor. The image looks crisp, the colors look correct, the black levels are strong, the compression is solid, and the grain remains intact, albeit heavier in some scenes.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. Though range-wise things are limited, dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (12 images - stills/posters), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 7 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Chris D., author of Gun and Sword: An Encyclopedia of Japanese Gangster Films titled Serial Gambling (25 minutes 24 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Mark Schilling, author of The Yakuza Movie Book titled Ninkyo 101 (14 minutes 35 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 28-page booklet (limited to 2000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled Shogun’s Reign written by Stuart Galbraith IV, an essay titled The Stars written by Hayley Scanlon, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Big Time Gambling Boss was directed by Kosaku Yamashita, whose other notable films include Red Peony Gambler: Here Comes Oryu, Father of the Kamikaze, and The Last True Yakuza. Big Time Gambling Boss is the fourth of ten films in the Bakuchi Uchi film series. The screenplay for Big Time Gambling Boss was written by Kazuo Kasahara, whose other notable films include Cops vs. Thugs and Battles Without Honor or Humanity.

Despite having all of the elements that are synonymous with 1960s and 1970s Yakuza films, Big Time Gambling Boss is arguably one of the most unique Yakuza films ever made. Also, though gambling is in the title, outside of a very brief moment where gambling takes place, gambling does not play a large role in the story at hand. That said, despite the lack of gambling, that is not to say that the Yakuza’s other vices are not on full display.

The narrative revolves around the Tenryu clan, whose leader is on his deathbed. From there, a power struggle ensues between the different groups within the clan. And though there is a protocol by which the new boss is selected, behind the scenes there is a plan to install a leader who will betray the clan.

Big Time Gambling Boss has an excellent cast, particularly Tomisaburô Wakayama (Lone Wolf and Cub) as Tetsuo Matsuda, the rightful successor whose loyalty to the Tenryu clan is called into question due to his time in prison. Kôji Tsuruta (Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon) also gives a standout performance as Shinjirô Nakai, a level-headed ally of Tetsuo Matsuda who tries to keep the rival factions at bay.

Though violence is a major element in Yakuza cinema, it takes about twenty-seven minutes before the first moment of carnage occurs. Also, the first hour is essentially character development, while the bulk of the carnage happens in the final thirty minutes, building up to a phenomenal ending. Ultimately, Big Time Gambling Boss is an extraordinary tale about loyalty and betrayal that is a must-see film if you are a fan of Yakuza cinema.

Big Time Gambling Boss gets an exceptional release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer