Blu-ray release: ‘Prison Walls: Abashiri Prison I-III’
By Phil Mills | Mar 18, 2024
Eureka Entertainment are bringing the first three films in the Japanese ‘Abashiri Prison’ movie series to US and UK Blu-ray on May 27, 2024.
Constructed in the late nineteenth century to house political prisoners, Japan’s infamous Abashiri Prison served as the inspiration for a popular and prolific run of yakuza movies released between 1965 and 1972. This entry into the Masters of Cinema series includes the first three films in the landmark series, directed by Teruo Ishii (‘Shogun’s Joy of Torture’) and starring Ken Takakura (‘The Bullet Train’).
In ‘Abashiri Prison’, Takakura stars as Shinichi Tachibana, a yakuza sent to Abashiri as punishment for an attack on a rival gangster. He intends to serve his time as a model prisoner until he is shackled to the bullish Gonzo Gonda (Kōji Nanbara), unwittingly roped into an escape attempt orchestrated by Heizo Yoda (Tōru Abe) and forced to face the frozen wilderness of Hokkaidō. In ‘Another Abashiri Prison Story’, Tachibana has just been released when he stumbles across a stash of diamonds recently stolen in a heist – and attracts unwanted attention from criminals and cops alike. Finally, in ‘Abashiri Prison: Saga of Homesickness’, Tachibana reunites with his former yakuza associates, who are trying to go straight. That is, at least, until old rivals come looking for trouble…
Ken Takakura would reprise the role of Tachibana in another seven films under the ‘Abashiri Prison’ banner – all of them helmed by Teruo Ishii – before the series was rebooted as ‘New Abashiri Prison’ in 1968, leading to a further eight instalments with Takakura in the lead. It all began with these early entries, presented here for the first time ever on Blu-ray from brand new restorations of the original film elements by Toei.
Features:
• 1080p HD presentations from restorations of the original film elements
• Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release
• Original Japanese audio (uncompressed LPCM mono)
• New audio commentary by Tom Mes
• New audio commentary by Chris Poggiali
• New audio commentary by Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
• Tony Rayns on Abashiri Prison
• New video appreciation by Jasper Sharp and Mark Schilling
• Trailers
• Collector’s booklet
• Limited edition O-card slipcase [2000 copies only]
‘Prison Walls: Abashiri Prison I-III’ is available to pre-order now from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
- Teaser: ‘The Plot’ - April 22, 2024
- Blu-ray release: ‘Fearless Hyena Part II’ - April 22, 2024
- Theatrical release: ‘July Rhapsody’ - April 20, 2024
