Cast
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Tetsuya Takeda
as Hajime Katayama
Hisayo Ariga
as Hisako
Kirin Kiki
as Sumi Yashiro
Toshiyuki Nishida
as Scam Artist
Noboru Nakaya
as Investigative Chief
Akiji Kobayashi
as Asst Chief Fuji
Shinichirō Mikami
as Detective Tazawa
Fujita Okamoto
as Detective Sawaki
Kunie Tanaka
as Neighbor
Ken Takakura
as Detective Mikami
Sakae Umezu
as Counselor Tanaka
Kōjirō Kusanagi
as Mr. Akiyoshi
Sabu Kawahara
as Shinkichi Mikimoto
Akira Hamada
as Chief of Investigation in Hakata
平松慎吾
as Tanaka's Co-worker
Crew
Director
- Yūsuke Watanabe
Producer
- Hiroshi Fujikura
- Terumi Kuroki
Reviews
Thematic Analysis
This high-octane Action/Comedy/Romance film balances spectacular sequences with character-driven moments. Unlike many films in the genre, Karate Cop distinguishes itself through a unique visual style and creative action choreography.
Director Yūsuke Watanabe brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.
Released in 1982, the film exists within a cultural context that now offers viewers historical perspective on the social issues of that era. Its reception demonstrates the diverse reactions to its artistic choices and its place in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The production of Karate Cop took approximately 20 months from pre-production to final cut.
- The final cut of the film runs for 109 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 146 minutes long.
- The costume department created over 462 unique costume pieces for the production.
- The screenplay went through 5 major revisions before the final shooting script was approved.
- Several scenes were filmed in multiple locations to capture the perfect setting.
Historical Context
- In 1982, when this film was released:
- Economic policies were shifting toward deregulation in many Western countries.
- MTV launched, changing how music was marketed and consumed.
- Independent cinema was growing in influence, challenging the dominance of major studios.
How This Film Stands Out
Details
- Release Date: April 17, 1982
- Runtime: 1h 49m