Sometimes regarded as not only among Gosha’s finest films but among the finest yakuza films ever made, VIOLENT STREETS (1974, 96 mins, 2.35:1 Widescreen, Mono) is a brutal, gripping, kinetic action yarn in which legendary gangster-turned-actor Noboru Ando plays Egawa, a retired yakuza underboss, now nightclub owner, who gets pulled back into the life when his old comrades demand control of his club. Meanwhile, a gang war quietly roiling behind the scenes erupts into open violence in response to a high-profile kidnapping, lending unimaginably high stakes to Egawa’s reemergence onto the yakuza scene. The result is a kinetic and stylish explosion of deception, mayhem, and death that leaves no one safe – and a masterpiece of 1970’s yakuza cinema, a pulpy, pungent thriller.

For thoughts on Violent Streets, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/xJzY33ZLWzM?t=1967]

Video Quality

Violent Streets comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Film Movement Classics sourced from a new 2K restoration of the original broadcast elements in the original 2.35:1. This source appears to be in good shape with no major damage to be found in this presentation and only minor instances of dirt and specks remaining after the remaster. The film sports a lovely natural grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the picture, always resolving well while showcasing intimate details in the interiors and in the various environments.

While not the most dazzlingly colorful movie, hues show up on the screen in a pleasant manner, notably in elements of the costumes and production design. The color timing appears to be mostly natural to the intention of the filmmaker. Black levels hold up fairly well with some admirable depth to the image. A handful of shots contain shifts toward softness, but these moments are not a consistent issue. This is a really good effort from the team at Film Movement Classics.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original Japanese (with optional English subtitles). The film showcases some thrilling elements, but many of the scenes take more of a dialogue-driven approach that allows for further exploration of the characters. The score comes through nicely in relation to the competing sounds with solid fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly without sound effects or the score trouncing on important information. A few lines of dialogue show very minor instances of distortion, but this is not a persistent issue. For the most part, everything comes through accurately with good fidelity and without damage or other anomalies.

Special Features

Tattooed Director – Hideo Gosha: A 20-minute featurette is provided with Tomoe Gosha in which she discusses the career of her father after the war, his views on life and death, how he was looked down upon by arthouse fans, the ways in which he worked with his ensemble and more.

A Street That Can’t Be Beat: A nine-minute video essay by Patrick Macias is provided which explores the great qualities of this feature, its legacy and more.

Trailers: This disc provides the trailer for Violent Streets (1:31). There are also trailers provided for Hideo Gosha’s Samurai Wolf (1:31) and Samurai Wolf 2: Hell Cut (1:24), also out on Blu-Ray from Film Movement Classics.

Booklet: This release comes with a new 16-page booklet featuring a new essay by Japanese film expert Mark Schilling.

Final Thoughts

Violent Streets is a formidable piece of work from the great Hideo Gosha. The machinations at play are never less than captivating as you follow these different factions while watching things spiral out of control. The ensemble that has been assembled does not feature any weak spots. Many yakuza films can feel very similar, but it takes careful consideration to craft films like this one which unlocks new layers to appreciate. Film Movement Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray with a top tier A/V presentation and an assortment of special features. If you are a fan of yakuza films, don’t pass this one up. Recommended

Violent Streets is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

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

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