The Yakuza

:"A man never forgets. A man pays his debts"

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A powerful film written by Paul Schrader and Robert Towne and directed by Sydney Pollack, The Yakuza takes an in depth look at Japan as seen from western eyes.

Related Topics:
Paul Schrader - Robert Towne - Sydney Pollack - Japan

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A big step forward from previous American films based in Japan, most notably Marlon Brando's The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) which cast Brando in "yellowface" as the Japanese character "Sakini" and Sayonara (1957), featuring Ricardo Montalban as the Japanese character "Nakamura".

Related Topics:
Marlon Brando - The Teahouse of the August Moon - 1956 - Sayonara - 1957 - Ricardo Montalban

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Warner Bros paid Paul and his brother Leonard the then record sum of $325,000.00 USD for their debut story which would provide Paul his break into Hollywood and go on to pen the Scorcese classics Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980). Robert Aldrich was originally pegged to direct but Robert Mitchum, who had worked with Aldrich on the dismal The Angry Hills (1959), had him replaced by Pollack.

Related Topics:
Warner Bros - USD - Hollywood - Scorcese - Taxi Driver - 1976 - Raging Bull - 1980 - Robert Aldrich - Robert Mitchum - 1959

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Though now dated, "The Yakuza" remains a rich and poignant look at Japan during its transition from its role in the war and the US occupation to the ecconomic powerhouse of the 1980s. Its influences can be seen in contemporary movies such Black Rain (1989), Brother (2001), Kill Bill (2004) and Into the Sun (2005).

Related Topics:
War - US occupation - 1980 - Black Rain - 1989 - Brother - 2001 - Kill Bill - 2004 - Into the Sun - 2005

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