High and Low

Play trailer

High and Low

1963

2h 22m

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Critics Consensus

Meticulously crafted by master director Akira Kurosawa, High and Low is an enthralling procedural imbued with weighty moral heft.

Read Critics Reviews

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 Tinée

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

Karthik Y.

@madkarthi 2d

an absolute cinematic masterpiece. Akira Kurosawa delivers pure class execution in every single frame.

See more

Tom F

@RT55173143 2d

The film starts as a low-stakes corporate power struggle and quickly escalates into a thriller, making scenes we’ve seen a million times still surprising and exciting.

See more

D P

@RT45936356 Mar 15

A really good story. My American self really, really... really wanted there to be some justice, some compensation, some deus ex machina, some kind of gotcha or UNO reverse card, a scheme, a twist, something! I wanted a happier ending, and I didn't get that. But I understand that it doesn't always work out that way. I'm just used to my movies lying to me about living in a just world.

See more

Jason R

@JasonLovesMoviesForever Mar 3

A True Masterpiece that stands the test of time 70+ years later! Every film maker and actor should watch this Directors films to get an idea of what quality cinema is.

See more

Steve Y

@Cubby65 Feb 16

Another Kurosawa winner - almost. The first hour sets the story, with drama but a bit stagey; the rest is a good cop show, followed by an unnecessary melodramatic ending.

See more

Elizabeth C

@berlioz Feb 13

Master detective film. Its tightly woven police procedural keeps you spellbound. It even touches on social issues.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Akira Kurosawa

Director

Toshiro Mifune

Kingo Gondo

Tatsuya Nakadai

Inspector Tokuro

Kyoko Kagawa

Reiko Gondo

Tatsuya Mihashi

Kawanishi

Yutaka Sada

Aoki

View more photos

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)