This is a yakuza outfit I'm dealing with. What the hell can the police do?
One full decade before he co-wrote and directed Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Paul Schrader co-wrote with Robert Towne a film called The Yakuza, based on a story by Leonard Schrader. Made in 1975, the film was directed by Sydney Pollack and stars Robert Mitchum as a World War II veteran who goes to modern-day Tokyo at the behest of Army buddy Brian Keith to rescue Keith's daughter from a ruthless yakuza boss. Mitchum goes because he believes he owes Keith something and while he's there he enlists the help of a former yakuza (Ken Takakura) who believes he owes Mitchum something. Seems during the occupation Mitchum saved the life of Takakura's sister (Keiko Kishi) and her daughter, but it did make things a little awkward when they started having an affair. No wonder Takakura feels conflicted.
The Yakuza is an exciting (and occasionally quite violent) action thriller with a unique setting, and its look at Japanese culture is what really makes it worth seeing. "Everywhere I look, I can't recognize a thing," Mitchum says upon his arrival in a neon-lit Tokyo and that's not too surprising considering he hasn't been back in over 20 years. Good thing his fellow Army buddy Herb Edelman, who stayed behind after the occupation was over, is around to give him a base of operations -- and fill in his complicated backstory for Keith's personal bodyguard (Richard Jordan), who goes along to back Mitchum up. Kinda makes you wonder where his loyalties lie.
One final note: Amusingly enough, this was my second movie in a row to feature a scene set in a bathhouse. We were spared the bare asses this time, though.