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The Crimson Kimono

Released Oct 11, 1959 1h 24m Crime Drama List
80% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 72% Audience Score 250+ Ratings
A Los Angeles detective (Glenn Corbett) and his Japanese partner (James Shigeta) woo an artist (Victoria Shaw) while solving a stripper's murder. Read More Read Less
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Critics Reviews

View All (15) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety The mystery melodrama part of the film gets lost during the complicated romance, and the racial tolerance plea is cheapened by its inclusion in a film of otherwise straight action. May 11, 2020 Full Review Geoff Samuel Time Out Some fine set pieces and thoughtful camera-work serve to illustrate Fuller's gift for weaving a poetic nihilism out of his journalistic vision of urban crime. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Ed Gonzalez Slant Magazine Harry Sukman's score courts condescension whenever the action shifts to Little Tokyo, but it's the film's only slip. May 1, 2006 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Promoted upon its original release with such lurid and misleading lines like, "Yes, this is a beautiful American girl in the arms of a Japanese boy! What was his strange appeal for American girls?" this is actually a thoughtful drama. Rated: 3/4 Nov 1, 2021 Full Review George Bourke Miami Herald An obvious production of low budget, the Crimson Kimona nevertheless has some good moments, photographically as well as in performance. Jul 27, 2021 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews The Crimson Kimono segues into a routine police-procedural midsection that becomes less and less interesting (and more and more tedious) as time progresses... Rated: 2/4 Jun 9, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (40) audience reviews
Bill T WOW! Samuel Fuller, a director who admitted I've never been too crazy about, totally knocks it out of the park with this film, about two detectives, one white and one Asian, trying to find the killer of a sleazy burlesque dancer. Their investigation goes into Japantown, or Chinatown, or somewhere similar, as they investigate clues and witnesses. The first part of this I thought was very interesting, as these two investigate leads on their own, and each lead story is intercut with one another. It's a fascinating device I've actually never seen (and more on this a bit later). Anyways, they do get a lady who may be able to recognize the lead suspect if she saw him again. the white agent soon falls for this (white) lady, but soon the lady realizes, and soon the asian detective realizes, that they're hot for each other! So there's a real triangle happening. Oh, did I mention it's 1959? Stuff like this was still frowned upon. The Asian detective knows it, and so it's killing him how to break it to his partner without him being hateful or even mortified. WAIT, did I say there was a murder mystery going on? LOL Remember how I was marvelling at the split stories happening at the beginning? Fuller MARVELLOUSLY uses this device to split up the two stories, the mystery, the romance, and (three if you count it) the race politics. The conclusion is JUST GREAT, it so ties in to what was said before. I was so so super impressed with this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Remind Blobbo episode Naked City or Route 66. Narrative stagnate after a while, though. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member omk, I love this movie so much. It's problematic, but its being problematic in fresh and unexpected ways for 1959 is so exciting. Also, James Shigeta and that incredible radio/Shakespearian tragedy voice... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review susan f Great to see a film with a less simplistic view of USA race relations. I thought Shigeta was great. Not over the top at all for a 1959 film noir/love story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review ashley h The Crimson Kimono is an excellent film. It is about two detectives who seek a stripper's killer in the Japanese quarter of Los Angeles. Victoria Shaw and Glenn Corbett give fantastic performances. The script is well written. Samuel Fuller did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and mystery. The Crimson Kimono is a must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Clearly writer/director Samuel Fuller's intent here was to explore interracial relationships and the alienation encountered by Japanese-Americans after WWII. It's all framed inside a murder investigation by two cops - one white and the other Japanese. I found the acting by the male leads, James Shigeta and Glenn Corbett, overly melodramatic in certain scenes and the plotting misfires. Nonetheless, it's Fuller. It's Noir. It's wholly watchable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Crimson Kimono

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A Los Angeles detective (Glenn Corbett) and his Japanese partner (James Shigeta) woo an artist (Victoria Shaw) while solving a stripper's murder.
Director
Samuel Fuller
Producer
Samuel Fuller
Screenwriter
Samuel Fuller
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 11, 1959, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 24m
Sound Mix
Mono
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