High and Low

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High and Low

1963

2h 22m

Crime

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Toshirō Mifune stars as a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a ruthless kidnapper in Akira Kurosawa's exemplary film noir. Based on Ed McBain's detective novel "King's Ransom," "High and Low" is both a riveting thriller and a brilliant commentary on contemporary Japanese society.

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Critics Consensus

Meticulously crafted by master director Akira Kurosawa, High and Low is an enthralling procedural imbued with weighty moral heft.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Aug 13

From the opening frame (literally) to the last, Kurosawa never makes the smallest misstep nor permits it in anyone else. Every camera angle, every composition, every cut, every performance, is -- as far as I can see -- brilliantly right.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Aug 13

A tighter film, concentrating and balancing police activity and human conflicts would have given this added distinction in arty circles. As is, it's a finely tooled item, made by a master craftsman.

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Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

Aug 13

The film explores not only the method but the mind of the criminal and does it in meticulous fashion. It is lengthy, but absorbing, and the acting throughout is expert. If you're a "whodunit" fan, here's a movie you shouldn't miss.

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Dec 26

an expertly crafted mystery thriller whose story of a kidnapping and its aftermath is woven through with a particularly acute portrait of the decay of modern Japan

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Sep 20

... a thriller that keeps you guessing with an ending that satisfies all of its thematic questions.

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Ed Travis

Cinapse

Sep 14

The master not only spins a damning portrait of the Japan he saw immediately around him, but also reflected on societal highs and lows that remain profoundly, tragically relevant today.

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Elizabeth C

@berlioz 1d

Master detective film. Its tightly woven police procedural keeps you spellbound. It even touches on social issues.

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Mike U

@japan0phile-mike 1d

Absolutely stunning film from a master film-maker! You get sucked into the story within 5 minutes & stay totally captivated until the closing scene. And so many classic superstar Japanese actors feature in it as well. One of the best detective dramas I've seen.

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The Wandering D

Feb 5

Stunning. This is such a great movie and Kurosawa does a wonderful job of making this an intriguing movie.

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Bert D

@LordBort92 Feb 1

Timeless mastercraft

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matthew C

@MattyX Jan 5

Wish films these days were as clise to this good!

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Jace T

@CineChamber Dec 16

I was turned onto this movie from the Spike Lee remake called Highest 2 Lowest. It was popular on social media, so I decided to look into the original movie, and I was very pleasantly surprised by how good this movie is. The pacing, mystery, and class commentary in this movie are incredible, and still incredibly stimulating, even in 2025.

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Akira Kurosawa

Director

Toshiro Mifune

Kingo Gondo

Tatsuya Nakadai

Inspector Tokuro

Kyoko Kagawa

Reiko Gondo

Tatsuya Mihashi

Kawanishi

Yutaka Sada

Aoki

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Synopsis

Toshirō Mifune stars as a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a ruthless kidnapper in Akira Kurosawa's exemplary film noir. Based on Ed McBain's detective novel "King's Ransom," "High and Low" is both a riveting thriller and a brilliant commentary on contemporary Japanese society.

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Producer: Ryûzô Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa, Tomoyuki Tanaka
Screenwriter: Eijirô Hisaita, Evan Hunter, Ryûzô Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni
Production Co: Kurosawa Production, Toho Company
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 1963, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 25, 2017
Runtime: 2h 22m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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