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High and Low

Original title: Tengoku to jigoku
  • 19631963
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 23m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
43K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Toshirô Mifune, Kenjirô Ishiyama, Kyôko Kagawa, and Tatsuya Nakadai in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer3:39
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99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery

An executive of a Yokohama shoe company becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom.An executive of a Yokohama shoe company becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom.An executive of a Yokohama shoe company becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom.

IMDb RATING
8.4/10
43K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Akira Kurosawa
  • Writers
    • Hideo Oguni(screenplay)
    • Ryûzô Kikushima(screenplay)
    • Eijirô Hisaita(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Toshirô Mifune
    • Yutaka Sada
    • Tatsuya Nakadai
Top credits
  • Director
    • Akira Kurosawa
  • Writers
    • Hideo Oguni(screenplay)
    • Ryûzô Kikushima(screenplay)
    • Eijirô Hisaita(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Toshirô Mifune
    • Yutaka Sada
    • Tatsuya Nakadai
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 150User reviews
    • 99Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #92
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer [OVS]
    Trailer 3:39
    Trailer [OVS]

    Photos113

    Toshirô Mifune in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune and Kyôko Kagawa in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune, Kyôko Kagawa, and Tatsuya Mihashi in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune and Kyôko Kagawa in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune and Kyôko Kagawa in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Tsutomu Yamazaki in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune, Kenjirô Ishiyama, and Tatsuya Nakadai in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune and Kenjirô Ishiyama in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Tsutomu Yamazaki in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)
    Toshirô Mifune and Kyôko Kagawa in Tengoku to jigoku (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Toshirô Mifune
    Toshirô Mifune
    • Kingo Gondoas Kingo Gondo
    Yutaka Sada
    Yutaka Sada
    • Aoki - the Chauffeuras Aoki - the Chauffeur
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Chief Detective Tokuraas Chief Detective Tokura
    Kyôko Kagawa
    Kyôko Kagawa
    • Reiko Gondoas Reiko Gondo
    Tatsuya Mihashi
    Tatsuya Mihashi
    • Kawanishi - Gondo's Secretaryas Kawanishi - Gondo's Secretary
    Isao Kimura
    • Detective Araias Detective Arai
    Kenjirô Ishiyama
    Kenjirô Ishiyama
    • Chief Detective 'Bos'n' Taguchias Chief Detective 'Bos'n' Taguchi
    Takeshi Katô
    Takeshi Katô
    • Detective Nakaoas Detective Nakao
    Takashi Shimura
    Takashi Shimura
    • Chief of Investigation Sectionas Chief of Investigation Section
    Jun Tazaki
    Jun Tazaki
    • Kamiya, National Shoes Publicity Directoras Kamiya, National Shoes Publicity Director
    Nobuo Nakamura
    Nobuo Nakamura
    • Ishimaru, National Shoes Design Department Directoras Ishimaru, National Shoes Design Department Director
    Yûnosuke Itô
    Yûnosuke Itô
    • Baba - National Shoes Executiveas Baba - National Shoes Executive
    Tsutomu Yamazaki
    Tsutomu Yamazaki
    • Ginjirô Takeuchi - Medical Internas Ginjirô Takeuchi - Medical Intern
    Minoru Chiaki
    Minoru Chiaki
    • First Reporteras First Reporter
    Eijirô Tôno
    Eijirô Tôno
    • Factory Workeras Factory Worker
    Masao Shimizu
    Masao Shimizu
    • Prison Wardenas Prison Warden
    Masahiko Shimazu
    Masahiko Shimazu
    • Shinichi Aokias Shinichi Aoki
    Toshio Egi
    • Jun Gondoas Jun Gondo
    • Director
      • Akira Kurosawa
    • Writers
      • Hideo Oguni(screenplay)
      • Ryûzô Kikushima(screenplay)
      • Eijirô Hisaita(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A wealthy businessman is told his son has been kidnapped and he will have to pay a very large sum for him to be returned safely. It is then discovered that his son is safe at home: the kidnapper took his chauffeur's son by accident. The kidnapper says this makes no difference: pay up or the child dies. This leaves him with a moral dilemma, as he really needs the money to conclude a very important business deal. —grantss
    • drug overdose
    • class differences
    • house on a hill
    • detective
    • rich man
    • 110 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • 142 Screenful Minutes of Thrills and Suspense!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After the film was released, kidnappings were on the rise in Japan. Akira Kurosawa himself had received threats for the kidnapping of his own daughter, Kazuko Kurosawa. She quoted him as once saying to her "With High and Low, I wanted to inspire tougher sentences on kidnappers. Instead, I was criticized for their increase."
    • Goofs
      The story occurs in midsummer. This implies that Mt. Fuji has no snow. Since the location filming was carried out in winter season, the top of Mt. Fuji is very white. Some film critics mention that this is almost the only mistake they can find in the film.
    • Quotes

      Kingo Gondo: Why should you and I hate each other?

      Ginjirô Takeuchi, medical intern: I don't know. I'm not interested in self-analysis. I do know my room was so cold in winter and so hot in summer I couldn't sleep. Your house looked like heaven, high up there. That's how I began to hate you.

    • Connections
      Featured in Tsukuru to iu koto wa subarashii! Kurosawa Akira: Korega Kuroswa sasupensu da (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      The Magic Begins
      (uncredited)

      Performed by Yumi Shirakawa

    User reviews150

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Intense and Highly Entertaining
    "High and Low" could be considered two movies. The first, "High" takes place in Kingo Gondo's (Mifune's) hilltop mansion. The crime occurs and what follows in the next hour is one of the most meticulous and brilliantly constructed film segments I have ever seen! The first half of the film could almost be considered theatre. It is static and deceptively simple but.....so intense! The ensemble acting is superb with Mifune a stand out as usual! Connecting these two movies is the train sequence. After the calculated intensity of the first part this scene comes at you like a sledgehammer! These four or five minutes are magnificent! So very exciting and so very quick it leaves you drained when it ends! "Low" begins with the hunt for the criminal. Only "Stray Dog" comes closer to capturing the cop's decent into hell. This last part of the film is fast and furious. We are no longer an observer. We have become part of the chase. First, we know who the criminal is. The police do not know and what follows is a fascinating puzzle being put together before our eyes! The last scene in the film is unexpected, deeply disturbing and left me numb and staring at the TV screen after the film had ended. Like Gondo we are left with the answers that we did not want to hear.
    helpful•48
    9
    • dorlago
    • Oct 10, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 26, 1963 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Између неба и земље
    • Filming locations
      • Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Kurosawa Production Co.
      • Toho Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $46,808
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $15,942
      • Jul 28, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $46,808
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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