Produced during the heyday of ninkyo eiga (chivalrous yakuza films), the seminal Red Peony Gambler series has had a lasting influence on cult cinema. The illustrious Junko Fuji stars as the beautiful and badass Oryu, the eponymous and benevolent female gambler who uses her incredible might for right. In the series’ premiere she rambles into town searching for her father’s killer with a wallet left at the crime scene as her only clue. At a card game she meets a kindred spirit, the noble and handsome yakuza Katagiri (Ken Takakura) and soon they are a force to be reckoned with. Part 2 finds Oryu under the arm of the kind gang boss of a silk farming town. When ruthless loan sharks encroach and their treachery leads to murder, it is Oryu’s sworn duty to exact justice. Maestro of Japanese cinema Tai Kato simultaneously satiates and transcends genre tropes in his masterful direction of the celebrated third film in the series. From its classically melodramatic opening set piece involving an oncoming train, the stage is set for a visually rich tale of good versus evil.

For thoughts on Red Peony Gambler I – III, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Red Peony Gambler I – III come to Blu-Ray courtesy of Film Movement Classics sourced from new restorations of the original film elements in the original 2.39:1. While it would be reasonable to break each of these down individually, the quality is so consistently great from one film to the next that there would be a lot of repeating thoughts. These restorations have left the natural film grain intact which brings forth a world of texture that is unbeatable. There is a sterling amount of detail present with distinct facets in the clothing and production design. Whenever our titular character has to draw blood, the goopy makeup effects render well.

The color photography thrives with vibrant colors featured in the design elements that naturally saturate the screen. The contrast holds firm between the three titles with a favorable interplay between light and dark. Highlights are handled firmly with neither title experiencing blooming. Black levels are fairly deep with no exceptional instances of black crush or compression artifacts. Even after the restoration process, there are still a few minor specks and scratches, but there is nothing that impedes the viewing experience. These transfers are a joy for fans of Japanese cinema.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with LPCM 2.0 mono tracks in the original Japanese (with optional English subtitles). These tracks present everything accurately with agreeable fidelity and without significant damage or other unwanted issues. Dialogue emanates pretty clearly, but some exchanges experience bouts of sibilance. Similar issues can be found with the score, which sounds mostly decent yet strains during some of the higher notes verging on distortion. These compositions never overshadow important information. Each film has instances of active sound effects when violence comes to pass that are given the appropriate weight within the mix. While this series has its share of violent clashes, the average scene is more dialogue-driven. Film Movement Classics has done well enough here.

Special Features

Tough, Yet Tender: An eight-minute video essay on Red Peony Gambler in which TokyoScope author Patrick Macias discusses the development of this franchise, the era in which it was released, how it blazed a trail for female-led action films, and more.

Hearts and Tattoos: A nine-minute video essay on Red Peony Gambler 2: Gambler’s Obligation in which TokyoScope author Patrick Macias discusses the quick production of this sequel, how things are heightened from the first film, the background connections of the creative figures, how this fits into the legacy of the series, and more.

Audio Commentary – Red Peony Gambler 3: The Flower Cards Game: Authors and Japanese Film Experts Chris Poggiali (These Fist Break Bricks) and John Charles (The Hong Kong Filmography, 1977-1997) provide a commentary track for the final film in the set in which they discuss how this fits into the series, the background of the performers, the “chivalrous yakuza” subgenre, the reception of the film, and more.

Introduction by Alex Cox: Filmmaker Alex Cox provides a seven-minute introduction to Red Peony Gambler 3: The Flower Cards Game in which he discusses the qualities of the titular character, how this entry follows up from the second installment, what the director brought to this outing, and more.

Trailers: These discs provide the trailers for Red Peony Gambler (Reissue) (1:15), Red Peony Gambler (Original) (3:24), Red Peony Gambler 2: Gambler’s Obligation (1:08), Red Peony Gambler 3: The Flower Cards Game (Reissue) (1:17), and Red Peony Gambler 3: The Flower Cards Game (Original) (3:29).

Booklet: An 18-page booklet is included featuring a new essay by film critic Mark Schilling (The Yakuza Movie Book) that provides a nice overview of the series.

Final Thoughts

The Red Peony Gambler series is very entertaining in its first three outings, giving the audience a badass heroine it loves to champion. Star Junko Fuji is such a calm yet dynamic force on screen, equally succeeding at charming in the character-driven moments and selling the action-oriented sequences. The first film is the strongest as it takes things a bit more seriously and has a clear objective that succeeds emotionally, but the following two films are a good time in a more popcorn entertainment way. This set certainly leaves us wanting to continue with the series in the future. Film Movement Classics has released a Blu-Ray set that features a lovely A/V presentation and informative supplemental features. Fans of yakuza cinema should buy with confidence. Recommended

Red Peony Gambler I – III is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Film Movement Classics and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.