1975 Sydney Pollack West-meets-East action film about a vet (
Robert Mitchum) who returns to
Japan after several years' absence to rescue an American friend's
kidnapped daughter. Turns out the kidnappers are Japan's
Mafia, the fearsome
Yakuza, and Mitchum must turn to old friends for help. Excellent performances by Mitchum and Japanese film star Ken Takakura. Also, well-balanced script by Robert Towne and Leonard and
Paul Schrader.
Largely ripped off in 1989 by Ridley Scott's Black Rain, which also stars Ken Takakura (and has Michael Douglas in the Mitchum role).