Profit from Killing 1964
Profit from Killing (1964), directed by Tokujirō Yamazaki, plunges into the gritty underbelly of post-war Japan with a pulse-pounding crime drama.
Director: Tokujirō Yamazaki
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Profit from Killing (1964) about?
Profit from Killing (1964) plunges into Tokyo's criminal underworld, where a recently paroled ex-con becomes an unwilling participant in a violent yakuza power struggle. His act of heroism against the Hanamura Kogyo gang sets off a chain of brutal confrontations, testing his resolve and survival instincts. The film weaves together themes of redemption, fate, and the brutal economics of crime.
Who directed Profit from Killing?
Profit from Killing was directed by Tokujirō Yamazaki, a filmmaker known for his work in crime and action cinema during the 1960s.
Who stars in Profit from Killing?
The film features Hideaki Nitani in the lead role, alongside Yōko Yamamoto, Reiko Sasamori, Isao Tamagawa, and Yasukiyo Umeno.
Is Profit from Killing (1964) worth watching?
As an unrated but critically praised entry in the Japanese crime-action genre, Profit from Killing offers a raw, atmospheric experience for fans of hard-boiled dramas. Its tight runtime and compelling performances make it a worthwhile watch, though viewers should brace for intense violence and morally complex storytelling.
How long is Profit from Killing?
Profit from Killing (1964) has a runtime of 89 minutes.
About Profit from Killing (1964) — The yakuza thriller that defined 1960s crime cinema
Profit from Killing (1964), directed by Tokujirō Yamazaki, plunges into the gritty underbelly of post-war Japan with a pulse-pounding crime drama. Set against the neon-lit chaos of Ikebukuro, the film follows Bin Tsuzuki—a hardened ex-con freshly released from Abashiri prison—as he stumbles into a violent turf war between the ruthless Hanamura Kogyo yakuza syndicate and the city's desperate locals. When Tsuzuki thwarts an attack on an innocent student, his life becomes entangled in a spiraling cycle of bloodshed and retaliation. Yamazaki crafts a tense, atmospheric tale where survival and profit blur, exposing the raw, unglamorous reality of organized crime. The movie's black-and-white visuals and relentless pacing evoke the era's social tensions, making it a standout in the action-crime genre.
Hideaki Nitani delivers a magnetic performance as the drifter caught in the crossfire, with Yōko Yamamoto and Reiko Sasamori adding emotional depth to the high-stakes narrative. The film's stark portrayal of vengeance and moral ambiguity resonates long after the credits roll, offering a compelling snapshot of 1960s Japanese cinema at its most visceral. For fans of hard-boiled crime stories, Profit from Killing (1964) is a gripping exploration of chance encounters and the costs of defiance.