Youth of the Beast

1963 1h 32m JA

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 97

ThrillerCrimeActionMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When a mysterious stranger muscles into two rival yakuza gangs, Tokyo's underworld explodes with violence.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Joe Shishido
Jôji 'Jo' Mizuno
Misako Watanabe
Kumiko Takeshita
Tamio Kawachi
Hideo Nomoto
Minako Katsuki
Sawako Miura
Daizaburo Hirata
Shibata
Eimei Esumi
Gorô Minami
Eiji Gō
Shigeru Takechi
Akiji Kobayashi
Tatsuo Nomoto

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Seijun Suzuki
Writers: Ichirō Ikeda, Tadaaki Yamazaki
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

63 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Seijun Suzuki, shot by Kazue Nagatsuka. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hajime Okumura. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Akira Suzuki shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Joe Shishido and Misako Watanabe and Tamio Kawachi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0057697 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 97 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Seijun Suzuki directs. Kazue Nagatsuka behind the camera. Hajime Okumura scores. Akira Suzuki cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

163 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Seijun Suzuki, shot by Kazue Nagatsuka. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Hajime Okumura. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Akira Suzuki shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Joe Shishido and Misako Watanabe and Tamio Kawachi carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0057697 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 97 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.