Anyone detect a theme this week? I hear kimonos are comfortable even though I’ve never worn one crimson or otherwise. Perhaps we can start a whole new cliche: a blogger in a kimono instead of pajamas.
Samuel Fuller made hardboiled films for a cult audience. He was a genuine auteur as he wrote, directed, and produced The Crimson Kimono. It’s a tough-minded film noir, which is set in LA’s Japantown and features a Nisei detective. That may not sound like much but given the fact that Mr. Moto was played by the German Peter Lorre, it was a break through. It was also banned in some Southern states for a bit of interracial canoodling.
Here’s the poster:
I love lobby cards. Here are two for the price of one. Actually, they’re free:
As a hardcore Sam Fuller fan I thought I should post this:
Finally, I couldn’t find the trailer online so here’s the first 4 minutes of the movie:
Wow. Thanks for this. I’m a huge Sam Fuller fan and this is one of the few I have yet to see. It looks great. “Sugar Torch” and “Glenn Corbett — Hollywood’s Fastest Rising Young Star”? I’m in.
Thanks for the suggestion. I just added it to my Netflix queue
You’re welcome, gents. I aim to please and occasionally my aim is true.
It’s one of Fuller’s best. I went on a Sam Fuller kick a while back, so I’ve seen a few of his films. Not quite as good, but still more than accessible for a modern audience, there are also Pickup on South Street and Fixed Bayonets. The latter is set during the Korean War and has some eerie moments.
I’ll add that the Crimson Kimono was a much more sophisticated movie, especially for its era. Given the prejudices of the times, that’s a pretty out in front poster.
I love Pickup. It’s the closest thing Sam ever did to an A movie. Of course, I like pretty much anything that Widmark is in.