is a 1968 Japanese

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

directed by Toshio Masuda. The film stars

Tetsuya Watari born (December 28, 1941 – August 10, 2020) was a Japanese film, stage, and television actor. Life He graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University. Watari belonged to the karate club at university. He made his screen debut in 1964, in Isamu Kosu ...

who plays Goro, a gangster who was sent to prison for three years for stabbing a hitman ( Machida Kyosuke) who belonged to the rival gang called the Aokis. On his release from prison, Goro finds out his gang is in decline and learns that the hitman he stabbed is still alive.

Production

''Outlaw: Gangster VIP'' is based on the writings of Goro Fujita, an ex-gangster who wrote the novel the film was based on. The film was the first in a six-part series of films based on Goro Fujita's character.

Release

The film was released in Japan on January 13, 1968. The film was released by Toho International in an English-subtitled version in the United States in May 1968. ''Outlaw: Gangster VIP'' was shown at the Udine Far East Festival in 2005. The film had its Canadian premier at the

Fantasia Film Festival Fantasia International Film Festival, also known as Fantasia Fest or simply Fantasia, is a genre film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. It focuses on fantasy, horror, sci-fi and cult genre films. Regular ...

on July 14, 2008. ''Outlaw: Gangster VIP'' was released by

Arrow Video An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a Bow and arrow, bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like St ...

on Blu-ray and DVD in 2016 as part of a box set of the entire series.

Reception

Jasper Sharp of

Midnight Eye Midnight Eye is a non-profit review website launched in 2001 by Tom Mes, Jasper Sharp, and Martin Mes. The website features reviews and analyses of Japanese films, as well as book reviews and interviews with filmmakers. In June 2015, it was announ ...

stated, "Toshio Masuda didn't make the flashiest of works at Nikkatsu, but he made solid, reliable movies with great characters and well-crafted plots that always keep the viewer on their toes. Gangster VIP is a far more mature and serious film than most of Nikkatsu's akushun films from the 60s, benefiting from some great acting, especially from its lead Watari (Tokyo Drifter), and the poignant final scenes will stick in one's mind for a long time after the film is over."

Cast

: Fujikawa Goro *

Chieko Matsubara is a Japanese actress. She is best known for her roles in '' Tokyo Drifter'' (1966) and the ''Outlaw'' series. Matsubara was born in Nagoya. Spotted at a beauty contest sponsored by the Nikkatsu is a Japanese film studio located in Bunky� ...

: Hashimoto Yukiko *Kayo Matsuo : Yumeko *

Kaku Takashina was a Japanese actor. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 9th Hochi Film Award and at the 6th Yokohama Film Festival for '' Mahjong hōrōki''. Selected filmography *''Tekken no machi'' (1947) *''Arabiya monogatari'' (1951) *''Koi ...

*Sanae Kitabatake *

Tamio Kawachi was a Japanese actor. Career Kawachi was a student at Kanto Gakuin University when Yujiro Ishihara, one of his neighbors in Zushi, Kanagawa, invited him to join the Nikkatsu studio. He made his debut in ''A Slope in the Sun'' (1958) playing Ish ...

Kyosuke Machida is a retired Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 150 films, including many yakuza films produced by Toei. When he was a child, he became Mas Oyama's pupil. He is currently an advisor to the International Karate Organization Kyokushin-kaika ...

: Sugiyama Katsuhiko *Yoshiro Aoki : Ueno *

Tatsuya Fuji is a Japanese actor. He was born in Beijing and raised in Yokohama. In 1962, Fuji joined Nikkatsu Company and began his acting career with small roles in Nikkatsu film. In 1968, Fuji married actress Izumi Ashikawa. He gained popularity throug ...

: Suzuki *

Mina Aoe , professionally known as , was a Japanese female ''enka'' singer who had a series of popular hits in the late 1960s and continued charting late into her career. With her distinctive husky voice, she acquired the nickname "Queen of the Blues". ...

: Singer *

Mitsuo Hamada is a Japanese actor. He co-starred with Sayuri Yoshinaga in many Nikkatsu films. In 1960, Hamada joined Nikkatsu Company. He won his first major award at the Elan d'or Awards in 1961. In 1966, Hamada was involved in the quarrel at the bar in Nag ...

: Tsujikawa Takeo

Sequels

''Outlaw:Gangster VIP 2　/ 大幹部無頼''

Source: *(Released date April 28, 1968) Directed by

Keiichi Ozawa is a Japanese film director. He joined Nikkatsu studio and worked as an assistant director under Toshio Masuda (director), Toshio Masuda. He made his director debut in 1968 with ''Outlaw: Gangster VIP, Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2''. Including the ''Ou ...

: Fujikawa Goro *

: Hashimoto Yukie *

Ryōhei Uchida was a Japanese ultranationalist political activist, martial artist, and "continental adventurer" ('' tairiku rōnin'') active in the pre-war Empire of Japan. Biography Uchida was born in Fukuoka prefecture. He was the son of '' Shinto Muso-ry ...

; Kiuchi Tsuyoshi *

Kunie Tanaka was a Japanese actor. Tanaka first made a name for himself as the lecherous antagonist of the ''Wakadaishō'' series (1961–1981) of films. He is also well-known for his roles in Kinji Fukasaku's yakuza films, namely the ''Battles Without Hon ...

: Nemoto Katsuji *Akira Yamauchi : Kiuchi Ryusaku * Masako Ota : Asami Keiko * Kayu Matsuo : Sugiyama Yumeko *

Izumi Ashikawa , known professionally as , is a Japanese actress. Ashikawa was called the Japanese Audrey Hepburn. In 1953, Ashikawa was scouted by director Yuzo Kawashima and joined the Shochiku studio. She made her film debut with ''Tokyomadamu to Osakafujin' ...

: Suzuki Kikue *

Hideaki Nitani was a Japanese actor. Career Born in Kyoto Prefecture, Nitani attended Doshisha University but quit before graduating. He first worked as an announcer at Nagasaki Broadcasting Company, but in 1956 made his debut as an actor at Nikkatsu. Gaining ...

: Asami Kosuke

''Outlaw:Heartless / 無頼非情''

Source: *(Released date August 1, 1968) Directed by Mio Ezaki *

: Fujikawa Goro *

: Hashizume Keiko *Koji Wada : Sawada Kenji *

Fumio Watanabe (October 31, 1929 – August 4, 2004) was a Japanese actor most known for his work with Japanese New Wave director Nagisa Oshima. He was born in Tokyo and graduated from the University of Tokyo before joining the Shōchiku studio in 1956. Sele ...

: Koga *

: Hashizume *Ryoji Hayama : Sawada :Isao Tamagawa : Gohara

''Outlaw:Goro the Assassin / 無頼　人切り五郎''

Source: *(Released date November 2, 1968) Directed by

: Fujikawa Goro *

: Isomura Yuki *

: Hayashida Masahiko * Chitose Kobayashi : Hayashida Shinobu *Masahiko Tanimura : Yosaku *Asao Koike : Kaito Kensaku *Koji Nanbara : Makino Shouji

''Outlaw:Black Dagger / 無頼黒匕首''

Source: *(Released date December 28, 1968) Directed by

, screenplay by Kaneo Ikegami *

: Fujikawa Goro *

: Miura Fujiko / Yuri *

* Sanae Kitabatake : Takemiya Sayoko *

: Hongo Michio *

: Igawa *

Ichirō Nakatani was a Japanese actor. He attended Waseda University, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company. In 1959, Nakatani won Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year. Nakatani was well known for his role as Ninja ...

: Miura Kensuke * Ryoji Hayama : Tsuruoka Tatsuzo *

Shigeru Tsuyuguchi is a Japanese actor. Biography Tsuyuguchi was born in Tokyo and raised in Ehime.Nihon Eiga Jinmei Jiten 2 190-191 He attended Ehime University, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1955. His car ...

: Takemiya Kunimatsu

''Outlaw:Kill! / 無頼殺せ'' (1969)

Source: *(Released date March 8, 1969) Directed by Keiichi Ozawa, screenplay by Hideichi Nagahara & Kaneo Ikegami *

: Fujikawa Goro *

: Asano Yumiko *

Koji Wada Koji, Kōji, Kohji or Kouji may refer to: *Kōji (given name), a masculine Japanese given name *Kōji (Heian period) (康治), Japanese era, 1142–1144 *Kōji (Muromachi period) (弘治), Japanese era, 1555–1558 *Koji orange, a Japanese citrus ...

: Uno Isao * Kenji Imai : Hirakawa Takamatsu *

Eiji Gō was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than sixty films from 1960 to 1982. Career Following his older brother, Jo Shishido, Gō joined the Nikkatsu studio in 1960 and made his film debut in ''The Warped Ones''. He often played villains on b ...

: Hanai Tetsuji *

Shinjirō Ehara was a Japanese actor. Ehara joined Toei Company and began his acting career with"Nagurikomi Nijyuohachinin shu". In 1957, he won Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year. He died on 27 September 2022, aged 85. Selected filmography Film *'' Jun' ...

: Moriyama Ken

References

Footnotes

Sources

External links

* {{Toshio Masuda Japanese crime films 1968 crime films Films directed by Toshio Masuda Nikkatsu films Yakuza films 1960s Japanese films

Production

Release

Reception

Cast

Sequels

''Outlaw:Gangster VIP 2 / 大幹部 無頼''

''Outlaw:Heartless / 無頼非情''

''Outlaw:Goro the Assassin / 無頼 人切り五郎''

''Outlaw:Black Dagger / 無頼 黒匕首''

''Outlaw:Kill! / 無頼 殺せ'' (1969)

See also

References

Footnotes

Sources

External links

''Outlaw:Gangster VIP 2　/ 大幹部無頼''

''Outlaw:Goro the Assassin / 無頼　人切り五郎''

''Outlaw:Black Dagger / 無頼黒匕首''

''Outlaw:Kill! / 無頼殺せ'' (1969)