bakuto gaijin butai aka sympathy for the underdog (kinji fukasaku, 1971. japan)

from the yakuza eiga blog:

The more popular version of the title is “Gambler – Mercenary Army” (“Bakuto – Gaijin butai”), and the film is part 9 of the “Gambler” series, started in 1964. This time the story follows Gunji (Kouji Tsuruta), an old-fashioned Yakuza still living by his code of honor, a man who has difficulties to find a place in the new world of corporate Yakuza. 10 years ago his clan was pitched by Oba (Boss of his own gang) against another clan. As a result, the fighting clans became weak and were swallowed by Oba’s organization. Gunji himself spent 10 years in prison. Now he gathers misfit survivors from his group and, seeing no future on mainland moves to Okinawa. Ironically, Gunji’s most reliable associate now is Kudo (Noboru Ando), who was an enemy 10 years ago. Now both men find a lot of common and become strong allies.

Okinawa greets Gunji’s group without much hospitability. But soon American gangsters are intimidated into passing their whisky trade to Gunji, while local Oyabun Hadelma is impressed with their fighting skills and agrees to give the newcomers an operating territory. Problems come from the local craziest gangsters and their leader Yonabai (Tomisaburo Wakayama). After a confrontation, that ends bad for both sides, Yonabai decides that truce with Gunji would be the best way.

But a happy ending would be impossible. Oba moves to Okinawa, forms an alliance with Hadelma, kills Yonabai, who is trying to resist the taking of Okinawa, and tries to buy off Gunji’s group. Gunji decides that it’s time for a showdown. No matter how many soldiers Oba has, Gunji, Kudo and their men are ready to fight and die.



“Sympathy for the underdog” is a more traditional Yakuza-Eiga than most of Fukasaku’s films of the mid 70ies, still, it is Fukasaku in his (usual) top form. The Pace is tight, the fights are a delight for any action movie fan and other loved Fukasaku trademarks are easily found here as well.

There’s a strong individual as a main character, outsiders (yes, underdogs) pitched against an evil corporate system, some references to black market days (when everyone was just for himself, which was OK for heroes) and social comments on Okinawa life. Lyrical episodes, for example Gunji’s relation with a local hooker, are very well made also. The action is less frantic, than in the “Fight without Honor” series, but very inventively staged (like in a sequence, when American black killers attack Gunji’s group in a bar, first shooting pool, then, using a plane’s roar as a disguise, shooting a lot of guns). Another interesting thing is many nods to American films, first of all Sam Peckinpah’s “The wild Bunch”. In Fukasaku’s hands they are more than simple “references” of course. I love “The wild bunch” a lot, but Tsuruta’s men marching to their death through the streets of Okinawa looks not less impressive, than William Holden’s people marching through some Mexican streets before the final shootout.

As usual for Fukasaku the film is decorated with fine acting. Tsuruta is at his place as a melancholical, noble loner, Wakayama is cool as one-armed Yonabai and Ando… Well, no great performing, but still a strong presence on the screen. To sum up, “Sympathy for the underdog” is a must for Fukasaku’s fans and a very good film in any way.

allzine