Why So Blu?

‘Prison Walls – Abashiri Prison I-III’ on Blu-ray May 28!

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… Prison Walls – Abashiri Prison I-III is released on Blu-ray May 28, 2024!

PRISON WALLS: ABASHIRI PRISON I-III | PRESS RELEASE

 

Teruo Ishii’s action-packed prison breakout films starring Ken Takakura

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. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the first three entries in this landmark series, directed by the “King of Cult” Teruo Ishii (Shogun’s Joy of Torture) and starring a titan of Japanese genre cinema, Ken Takakura (The Bullet Train).

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.

 

BONUS FEATURES:

• 1080p HD presentation of all three films from restorations of the original film elements supplied by Toei
• Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release
• Original Japanese audio (uncompressed LPCM mono)
• Brand new audio commentary tracks by Tom Mes, Chris Poggiali and Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
• Tony Rayns on Abashiri Prison – brand new interview with critic and Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns
• Brand new video appreciation by Jasper Sharp and Mark Schilling
• Trailers

 

 

DETAILS:

 

Label: Eureka Entertainment

  

PRISON WALLS: ABASHIRI PRISON I-III (Masters of Cinema) Special Edition Two-disc Blu-ray

ABASHIRI PRISON [ABASHIRI BANGAICHI] | ANOTHER ABASHIRI PRISON STORY [ZOKU ABASHIRI BANGAICHI] | ABASHIRI PRISON: SAGA OF HOMESICKNESS [ABASHIRI BANGAICHI: BŌKYŌ HEN]

KEN TAKAKURA | KUNIE TANAKA | KANJŪRŌ ARASHI | TERUO YOSHIDA

Director TERUO ISHII | Language JAPANESE | 1965 | 267 mins | 2.35:1 OAR

JAPAN | CRIME / ACTION / THRILLER / PRISON DRAMA | B & W / COLOUR

 

UK Blu-ray: Cert. TBC | Cat. No. EKA70529 | Barcode 5060000705294 | RRP £34.99 | 27 MAY 2024

 

US/CAN Blu-ray: Cert. UNRATED | Cat. No. EKV70529 | Barcode 760137152989 | SRP $59.95 | 28 MAY 2024

Prison Walls – Abashiri Prison I-III is released on Blu-ray May 28, 2024!

 

PRE-ORDER NOW!

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