Action Movie History 1933 (Keisatsukan)

Film noir was "invented" in America in the 40s right? Well, it all depends on how you wanna define it. Some say the German Expressionism of the 20s was film noir in a sense, but one thing is for sure: Tomu Uchida's Keisatsukan (Police Man) is film noir.

Jonas Högberg & Anders Hultqvist watch a movie of two halves: the first a pedestrian insight into life as a police man in Japan during the 30s, the second a descent into sleuth territory. Isamu Kosugi's cop turns into Humphrey Bogart stalking his prey in alleyway after alleyway, conning his suspect to unknowingly hand over evidence and donning a trenchcoat and Stetson hat for style.

But the real star of the show is the camera man. Soîchi Aisaka pulls out every trick from the tool box: whip pans, focus pulls, trolley rides. And when the climactic ending arrives we are treated to some amazing searchlight action!

"Do you ever recall von Hardenberg?"