High and Low

Movie guide

High and Low (1963)

天国と地獄

  • Drama
  • Crime
  • Thriller
  • Mystery
8.4/10 Drama4U Score · from 1,223 TMDB votes · How the score works

Akira Kurosawa's High and Low (1963): spoiler-free plot summary, Toshirō Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai cast, US release date and where to stream it today.

High and Low plot summary (spoiler-free)

Kingo Gondo is a wealthy executive at National Shoes, living comfortably in Yokohama. His life changes in an instant when a phone call informs him that his son has been kidnapped and a ransom is demanded. Then it emerges that the kidnappers made an error: the boy they took is the son of Gondo’s chauffeur. The demand for payment still stands.

That mix-up is the dramatic engine of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low (original title: 天国と地獄). Gondo must decide what one man’s fortune is worth when the life at stake belongs to someone else’s child. His answer tests his conscience, his household and his standing at work. Meanwhile, Chief Detective Tokura and his team launch a painstaking police investigation, weighing every move against the safety of the child.

The film moves between a private moral crisis and a procedural manhunt. It uses the kidnapping to examine class relations and the gap between those who live comfortably and those who do not in Shōwa-era Japanese society.

High and Low — Mood illustration, not a still from the film
Mood illustration, not a still from the film

What makes High and Low notable

  • Director and writers: Akira Kurosawa directed the film. He co-wrote the screenplay with Hideo Oguni, Ryuzo Kikushima and Eijiro Hisaita.
  • Cast: Toshirō Mifune leads as Kingo Gondo, and Tatsuya Nakadai plays Chief Detective Tokura. The supporting cast includes:
    • Kyōko Kagawa as Reiko Gondo
    • Tatsuya Mihashi as Gondo’s secretary Kawanishi
    • Isao Kimura as Detective Arai
    • Kenjirō Ishiyama as Chief Detective ‘Bos’n’ Taguchi
    • Takeshi Katō as Detective Nakao
    • Takashi Shimura as the Chief of the Investigation Section
    • Jun Tazaki and Nobuo Nakamura as National Shoes executives
  • Genre and style: The film is a black-and-white Japanese crime drama that blends thriller, mystery and film noir. Its story turns on a ransom, blackmail pressure and a detailed criminal investigation.
  • Origin: It was produced in Japan by TOHO and Kurosawa Production, and its spoken language is Japanese. It first premiered on 1 March 1963 and runs 142 minutes.
  • Reviews and reception: Audience reception is summarised in the Drama4U Score shown on this page.

Who will enjoy High and Low

  • Fans of Akira Kurosawa and Toshirō Mifune who want to see the pair outside a samurai setting
  • Viewers who like police procedurals and tense, investigation-driven crime stories
  • Anyone drawn to moral dilemmas and films about class and social inequality
  • Lovers of classic black-and-white cinema and Japanese noir
  • Audiences who can settle into a long, deliberately paced drama of almost two and a half hours

High and Low release date and where to watch

High and Low premiered in Japan on 1 March 1963. Its US theatrical release followed on 26 November 1963, where it is listed as NR (not rated). A trailer is available.

In the US, the film can be streamed on HBO Max and via the HBO Max Amazon Channel. It is also available free with ads on several services:

  • Tubi TV
  • Plex and Plex Channel
  • Shout! Factory TV
  • YouTube Free

To rent or buy the film digitally, it is offered on Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability can change, so check your preferred service before watching.

Trailer

Cast

  • Toshirō MifuneToshirō Mifuneas Kingo Gondo
  • Tatsuya NakadaiTatsuya Nakadaias Chief Detective Tokura
  • Kyōko KagawaKyōko Kagawaas Reiko Gondo
  • Tatsuya MihashiTatsuya Mihashias Kawanishi, Gondo's secretary
  • Isao KimuraIsao Kimuraas Detective Arai
  • Kenjirō IshiyamaKenjirō Ishiyamaas Chief Detective 'Bos'n' Taguchi
  • Takeshi KatōTakeshi Katōas Detective Nakao
  • Takashi ShimuraTakashi Shimuraas Chief of Investigation SectionSee credits →

Photo: TMDB

FAQ

When was High and Low released?
High and Low premiered on 1 March 1963. Its US theatrical release was on 26 November 1963.
Where can I watch High and Low in the US?
It streams on HBO Max (also via the HBO Max Amazon Channel). It is free with ads on Tubi TV, Plex, Shout! Factory TV and YouTube Free, and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home.
Who is in the cast of High and Low?
Toshirō Mifune stars as executive Kingo Gondo, and Tatsuya Nakadai plays Chief Detective Tokura. Kyōko Kagawa, Tatsuya Mihashi, Isao Kimura, Kenjirō Ishiyama, Takeshi Katō and Takashi Shimura also appear.
What is High and Low about?
A shoe company executive in Yokohama learns that kidnappers have taken his chauffeur's son by mistake, yet still demand a ransom from him. The film follows his moral dilemma alongside the police investigation.
How long is High and Low?
High and Low runs 142 minutes. It is in Japanese and filmed in black and white.

Sources

  1. TMDB
  2. IMDb

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