Rating: 
Summary: Humanity and compassion triumphs-for the life of one boy
Review: Based on King's Ransom by Ed McBain, High And Low (original title Heaven And Hell) tells the story of Gondo (Toshiro Mifune), head of National Shoes' factory production, who believes in producing quality shoes that are expensive but durable. He is ready to take a controlling interest in his company to prevent from being kicked out of the company when he receives a phone call saying his son has been kidnapped and to fork over 30 million yen. His son Jun, fortunately, returns from playing outside with Shinichi, the chauffeur's son, who is now nowhere to be seen. That changes nothing, as the kidnapper still demands the ransom.He calls the police, who come in discretely in one of the cleverest methods I've ever seen. Led by Inspector Tokura and aided by Taguchi, a burly bald man known as the Bo'sun, they prove to be ideal policemen, dedicated, rational, and clever. Gondo adamantly refuses. He has mortgaged everything, including the luxurious house on the hill he and his family live to get the shares. Paying the ransom will put them all out on the street. The police are accomodating, saying that it's important to rescue the child, but not by sacrificing Gondo. However, Gondo's right-hand man Kawanishi has sold him out, informing his colleagues of his plans. Gondo's dreams have been destroyed, so he agrees to pay the ransom. The drama can be divided into three parts. First, the kidnapping, Gondo's refusal then agreeing to pay, and the police coming over to advise him. The second part has Shinichi being released and goes into high-level detective drama mode as the police use evidence, deductive reasoning, and clues that will help them catch the kidnapper, and three, the trap the police set out for the killer. It's part two that's the best. The Japanese police's teamwork, skills in chasing down and analyzing clues, and the cooperation shown by the public, denotes that the Japanese police are truly dedicated servants of the people, compared to the American police (q.v. Rodney King, Malice Green, Amadou Diallou). The police in this movie are likable and honorable. And when each development or clue is found, the excitement ratchets up a notch. Water is twice a symbol in this movie. Gondo is taking a shower, the water running full blast after Kawanishi has betrayed him. After this scene, he calls the bank to get the money per the kidnapper's demands. Also, once he tosses the money again per the kidnapper's demands, he washes his face in a sink. It's a cleansing; the first scene denotes his washing away the cold businessman for someone with humanity. Indeed, when Shinichi is released, he rushes towards him as if he were his own son. This was first touched on when his wife Reiko berates his worsening attitude. "Success isn't worth losing your humanity" and she is right. Gondo is thus reborn as someone with compassion, humility, and a soul, while being his own man as opposed to being a cog in the corporate wheel. His sacrifice makes him a hero to the Japanese public. And the scene where he refuses his post back at National Shoes after the media backlash at the company for firing him, elicits a secret smile from the Bo'sun, who usually wastes on love on the rich, but ends up admiring Gondo. Gondo also represents the ideal of quality goods Japan has become famous for. In the opening, he is dead set against the cheap quality of shoes his colleagues propose making. He says in response to his colleagues that shoes must wear out and are accessories just like hats and handbags that "hats are decoration. Shoes carry all your body weight." He advocates making shoes that are durable yet stylish, expensive but profitable in the long run. It's the Japanese business ideal versus America's disposable merchandise attitude. Thus Kurosawa also advocates quality in material things as well as quality of the soul. High And Low is proof enough of Kurosawa's ability to film gendai-geki (or contemporary drama) as opposed to jidai-geki (stories that take place in the feudal, samurai era in the warring pre-Tokugawa period.) Some will argue that it's nothing compared to The Seven Samurai or Throne Of Blood, but for its values of compassion, humanity, dedication, and ideal quality in spiritual and material things.
Rating: 
Summary: Decisions, decisions.
Review: Does a wealthy Japanese industrialist care enough about his chauffer's son to pay the kidnapper's ransom? Could he live with himself if he didn't? I found this to be a rather interesting film. I first saw it in a philosophy class I was taking at my local community college a couple of years ago. It captured my interest. Toshiro Mifune hardly smiles throughout the whole film but can you blame him? If he pays, he's out of a large sum of cash. If he doesn't pay, the kidnappers will kill the boy hostage and Mifune will be the scourge of society. Everyone will detest him for his selfish act. And what would his son think? It's been awhile since I saw the movie but if my memory serves me correctly, were not Mifune's boy and the chauffer's son friends? That's another dilemma. It was a nice experience seeing something like this come out of Japan. It's clear that the Japanese film industry is more than competent enough to go beyond Godzilla movies and anime. Akira Kurosawa has proven that for years.
Rating:
Summary: morality play and social commentary in gripping thriller
Review: High and Low (Japanese title translates as Heaven and Hell), is simultaneously about many things. On the surface, the title refers to the emotional roller coaster ride that the main chracter, Kingo Gondo(played by the great Toshiro Mifune) goes through when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped and is demanded to pay an enormous ransom. The title also refers to the geographic setting, contrasting Gondo's palatial house on the top of the mountain (the setting for the entire first half of the movie) and the sizzling slum in the harbor of Yokohama (where the second part of the movie takes place), on which Gondo looks down from his high place. Lastly, the title is refered to in the final scene, in which the condemned kidnapper expresses his fear to Gondo that he might go to heaven instead of hell. Likewise, the story takes three different dimension as a thriller, social commentary on wealth and poverity, and moral commentary on good and evil. A short summary of plot is as follows. A wealthy shoe-manufacturer, Kingo Gondo has just mortgaged everything to raise 50 million yen to launch an office intrigue that will give him the total control of the firm, but just at this critical moment, receives a call from a kidnapper that his son is kidnapped. As he decides to pay the ransom of 30 million yen, it is found that actually his chauffeur's son is kidnapped. At first, Gondo refuses to pay the ransom, but finally gives away his fortune, which gives him public admiration but results in bankrupcy. After much investigation through the slums of Yokohama, police captures the kidnapper. The kidnapper, who has murdered his accomplice, is setenced to death and few hours before execution, confronts Gondo and blames his wealth for his crime. As a thriller, this is a first-rate fare that will please many though some may feel the first part is too static and second part too detailed. Even though the first part of the film takes place almost entirely in the confines Gondo's living room, camera movement and placement of chracters as they move to and fro (mise-en-scene), are so skillful that our interest does not bog down. In the second part, we are shown the details of police work as they track down the kidnapper, which was very reminiscent of Fritz Lang's movie, M. Both the kidnapping and investigation are carried out intelligently and as the clues are discovered one by one (one of them in fact with blurt of color in this otherwise b&w film. Remember Schindler's List?), we discover the millieu of the "low/hell" slum in stark contrast to the "high/heaven" residence of Gondo. Should he pay and ruin himself to save the chauffer's son? This is also an intense internal thriller as we watch Gondo agonizing over how far his responsibility extends. He is confined in his living room, under costant eyes of police and entreating chauffeur and family. He is mostly shown either surrounded by all these people or cornered to the curtained, claustrophobic living room. Gondo's moral dilemma is very engrossing one, as we watch him coming closer to the final decision little by little. In the very beginning, Gondo appears as someone who once had a high degree of integrity, which was eroding in the dog-eat-dog world of corporate intrigue. He is still sincere enough to care about the quality of his products, which is the reason why he wants to kick out other profit-hungry executives. But he is not above resorting to the their means, and this cynicism is apparent in his advice to his son about how to play an outlaw. This remark prompts his wife to worry that his attitude to life has changed. At first, he absolutely refuses to pay the ransom. However, in this crisis, the deep humanity that has since laid dormant in him arises as he, after much torment, comes to the decision to pay the random. By the end of the film, when he confronts the man who tormented him so much, Gondo has reached the understanding that he must accept resonsibility not only for his chauffeur's son but even for the kidnapper and social condition that creates antagonism between himself and the kidnapper. In not many films do we see such deep character change as that of Gondo. And we also see poignantly how his action affects his chauffeur, wife, detectives, and the kidnapper....
Rating:
Summary: MASTERPIECE
Review: HIGH as Toshiro - Kingo Kondo - Mifune's house which lies on a hill, admired by the whole city. HIGH as Kingo's wealthiness that allows him to buy nearly 50 % of the shares of the society he's working for. HIGH as the moral integrity of this man who appears as a gentle capitalist never forgetting that money must be earned in a proper honest way. LOW as the condition of Kondo's servant whose only son has been kidnapped. LOW as the morals of Kondo's partners who are the true villains of the movie, LOW as the expectations of the drug addicts of Dope Alley who seem have been forgotten by the prosperous 1963 Japan. At least, LOW as Takeuchi's chances to escape a police humiliated by the machiavelic plot he has imagined. Adapted from one of Ed McBain " 87th Precinct " novels, Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW is a masterpiece. The first half of the movie takes place in the living room of Kingo Gondo. Kurosawa gives here an unforgettable lesson of cinema helped by a great actor - Toshiro Mifune - who is going to pass through the whole variety of feelings, from Happiness to Despair, in a 36 hours period. The second half of HIGH AND LOW depicts the police investigations in order to discover the kidnappers. Another scene worthy to stay in the annals of Movie History is the expressionist description - by night - of the hot streets of the city. A cinematographical enchantment. No bonus features with this Criterion release except for a booklet. Superb sound and images as usual. A DVD zone your library.
Rating:
Summary: A fine Ed McBain story-good filmed.
Review: I did love the Ed McBain story.
Movie is OK.If you place yourself in a japanese environnement.
I preferred the TV.movie with Robert Lansing and Norman Fell.
Rating:
Summary: Tension, Kidnapping, Detective Work, and Ladies Shoes
Review: I have recently seen three restored Kurosawa films at the theatre: Throne of Blood, Rashomon, and High and Low. This was easily the best, with Throne of Blood coming in second. Rashomon was not quite all that it was built up to be, in my opinion. At first I thought it was going to be a single-location mystery, all taking place in the home of the wealthy shoe plant executive. Probably the first half is shot there, then things start getting interesting. The tension builds as the police work actually takes over the focus of the second half of the film. Like all that I've seen from Kurosawa, this film is done magnificently well. The camera, the story, the acting. Mifune has become one of my favorite actors. He is amazing in everything. I've seen no one else who can express so much through their face. I'll be sure to rent or buy all his movies that I can't see at the theatre. This is a long film, but stick with it and enjoy a real classic.
Rating: 
Summary: This DVD doesn't work on some players
Review: I love this movie - it is one of Kurosawa's best. Unfortunately, this DVD doesn't play on some players, including mine (Panasonic). I bought 2 copies - both wouldn't play, and Criterion later told me that "High & Low" cannot play (for now) on my DVD player. Buyer beware.
Rating:
Summary: Another Kurosawa classic
Review: I was hesitant on this one. After Seven Samurai I watched other Kurosawa films (all samurai movies) and loved them. Unfortunately I grew a very limited view on him. I fgured all he could make were samurai movies. And when I heard this one was a cop movie, I was sure it wasn't going to be that great. Actually, I was very wrong. This is one of his best. Mifune is still wonderful. The story is fast paced and very informative, not only on Japanese culture, but also on police work.
Rating:
Summary: Wow! One of my favorite Kurosawa/Mifune movies
Review: I've loved the Kurosawa/Mifune combination for quite a while, but I had mostly seen the jidai-geki ("period") films. This was the first contemporary period film of theirs I had seen, and it was a very pleasant surprise. The first half (roughly) of the film is devoted to setting up the story, and the kidnapping-gone-wrong that drives the plot. The second half details the police investigation of the crime, and, ultimately, the dramatic conclusion. Mifune's performance in the first half is powerful and well-acted, and he continues in a more subtle, yet still powerful, role later in the film. The meticulous portrayal of the police investigation is very engaging, and I found myself actually leaning forward in my seat to see what would happen next. If you've never seen Toshiro Mifune in a Kurosawa film, or have only seen the "samurai" films, do yourself a favor and check out "High and Low." I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Rating:
Summary: HEAVEN + HELL
Review: In my opinion this is the hottest Kurosawa flick ever. I mean all Kurosawa flix are first-rate but this one is the physical form of Raekwon's "heaven + hell." A great kidnapping-tale, based on an ed mcbain story. Just rent it today.
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