Written by: Michael Den Boer on October 2nd, 2004
| Theatrical Release Date: Japan, May 6th, 1972 Director: Kinji Fukasaku Writer: Kinji Fukasaku, Yoshihiro Ishimatsu Cast:Bunta Sugawara, Noboru Ando, Mayumi Nagisa, Asao Koike, Noboru Mitani |
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| DVD released: | 2003 | 2004 |
| Approximate running time: | 88 minutes | 87 minutes |
| Aspect Ratio: | 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen | 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen |
| Rating: | 18 | NR |
| Sound: | Dolby Digital Mono Japanese | Dolby Digital Mono Japanese |
| DVD Release: | Eureka Video | Home Vision |
| Region Coding: | Region 2 Pal | Region 1 NTSC |
| Retail Price: | $24.95 | $29.95 |
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Eureka’s Region 2 DVD
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Home Vision’s Region 1 DVD
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The Film :
Isamu Okita (Bunta Sugawara) has a short temper that gets him into a lot of trouble. He is sent as a youth to prison and when he gets out he forms his own gang of hoodlums. Okita’s gang has been interfering with Takigawa clan business and a war is about to break out when Boss Yano steps in and takes Okita and his gang under his guidance. Okita through out the films looses his cool and he often disrespects more powerful Yakuza. Boss Yano does everything for Okita that he can to save him since he reminds him of himself when he was younger.
Video:
Eureka’s release while better then some of their other Kinji Fukasaku releases it still suffers from muted colors and overall the detail in the picture isn’t as sharp as it is on the Home Vision release. Eureka’s release is also plagued by over scan. Home Visions release boasts more vibrant colors and accurate flesh tones. Overall Home Vision had better source material to work with and in the end it shows.
Audio:
Both releases come with a Dolby Digital mono Japanese audio track and English subtitles that are easy to read and follow. Both releases audio tracks are clean and free of any hiss or distortion. Home Vision subtitles are more accurate then Eureka’s.
Extras:
Just like Eureka’s other Kinji Fukasaku DVD releases this DVD is essentially a bare bones release that includes some minor extras like a photo gallery and a profile for Kinji Fukasaku. Home Vision fares slightly better in the extras department with their release. Extras include Street Mobsters original trailer and trailers for the The Yakuza Papers (Volumes 1-5), Graveyard of Honor and HVe Zatoichi Trailer. Patrick Macias author of Tokyoscope: The Japanese film companion provides liner notes for this release are insightful and informative. Rounding out the extras is featurette, Street Mobsters: A Conversation with Former Yakuza. Two former Yakuza are interviewed with their backs to the camera the whole time. Street Mobster is an important film in Kinji Fukasaku’s career and it is a disappointment that a definitive special edition for this film hasn’t been released yet.
Overall:
Eureka’s Street Mobster while better then their Graveyard of Honor release it still has some minor drawbacks. Home Visions release is the best version currently available as it beats Eureka’s release in every department except in audio were both releases are equally as good.