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High and Low

Play trailer Poster for High and Low 1963 2h 22m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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High and Low

High and Low

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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 Go to Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness Sep 20
... a thriller that keeps you guessing with an ending that satisfies all of its thematic questions. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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matthew C @MattyX Jan 5 Wish films these days were as clise to this good! See more 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. See more Fong Kok Hoong F Nov 15 Loosely based on Evan Hunter's 1959 novel King's Ransom about a kidnapping of wrong child and the ransom a wealthy man resolving to pay, this Akira Kurosawa's lesser known work of his cinema engages as a moral dilemma drama, a police procedural thriller and a commentary on the anguish of social class disparity. See more Lars N @movie_douche Oct 11 As one of the most celebrated movies of all time I to can confirm: It's pretty good. A lean thriller, gorgeous to look at and narratively brilliant. See more Homura A Sep 20 Great movie! Kurosawa at his best imo! See more revolver.0 8 @Revolver08 Aug 26 must be one of the dumbest and naive good looking films in history See more Read all reviews
High and Low

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Cast & Crew

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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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High and Low

Scene from the film HIGH AND LOW. High and Low (1963) High and Low (1963) View more photos

Movie Info

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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