Golgo 13 (1973) | Region-Free (DVD) | Starring Ken Takakura

Title: Golgo 13 (1973)

Alternate Title: ゴルゴ13

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Plot Synopsis:
Duke Togo, known by the alias Golgo 13, is a professional assassin whose origins and personal details remain shrouded in mystery. Renowned for his precision and use of a customized, scoped M16 rifle, he is contracted to eliminate Boss Goa, the leader of an international crime syndicate involved in drug, weapon, and human trafficking. The mission takes him to Iran, where he navigates a web of danger and deception.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Junya Satō
• Writers: K. Motomitsu, Takao Saito
• Cast:
  • Ken Takakura as Duke Togo / Golgo 13
  • Pouri Banaei as Catherine Morton
  • Nosratollah Karimi as Richard Flanagan
  • Ahmad Ghadakchian as Max Boa
  • Mohsen Sohrabi as Arman Jafari

YouTube Trailer:
Golgo 13 (1973) | Trailer

IMDb Link:
Golgo 13 (1973)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Blake Bergman “Various Spaghetti” – ★★★★★
   “I’ve always known a bit of the context of the character loosely, knowing that it all was originated from a Manga source incepted by Takao Saito all the way back in 1968. I am also aware that there is multiple iconic sourcing from the original material in other forms, such as anime which I hope to get to. Humorously, I have to tell on myself that my biggest connection to it all is in the form of ‘Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode’ a Nintendo game released in 1988 but as I was three years old at that time, I came about it just in the intermix of renting games from the local video store. I remember the game being hard as nails, but I digress. The film itself is a wonderful piece of Japanese crime cinema. Ken Takakura embodies the stoic assassin perfectly, and the Iranian setting adds a unique backdrop to the narrative. The action sequences are well-executed, and the pacing keeps you engaged throughout. A must-watch for fans of the genre.”
2. Danethol – ★★½
   “Ken Takakura is a pretty badass dude, I just wish Golgo 13 had him doing more badass stuff. Looooooots of talking, very little actual assassin intrigue (or at least not the degree I was hoping for). I’ll give it credit for using 1970s Iran as a setting, that was admittedly pretty cool and unique. But mostly yawns and a shrug over here.”
3. Gregor Kreyca – ★★½
   “I don’t know, maybe I was in the wrong mood last night, but I really struggled to get into this one. The first half felt really slow and the plot and characters did not interest me much. I continuously lost interest. In the second half more happened and things got a little more exciting. Ken Takakura is a great and very charismatic actor but the rest of the cast felt very bland to me.”

Meta Description:
“Golgo 13” (1973), directed by Junya Satō, is a Japanese action-crime thriller featuring Ken Takakura as the enigmatic assassin Duke Togo. Adapted from Takao Saito’s manga, the film follows Golgo 13’s mission to eliminate an international crime syndicate leader, set against the backdrop of 1970s Iran.