About this series
Gambler (Bakuto) is a series of 10 ninkyo films starring Koji Tsuruta produced by Toei between 1964 and 1971. Not to be confused with Tsuruta and Toei's Gamblers (Bakuchi-uchi) series.
All films — in order
1
Gambler
The main character Tachibana Isaburo is released from prison and discovers that his boss is dead. He is offered to become the leader of the group, but refuses. A young fashion villain, a Yakuza boss wants to get into politics. He makes a deal with the Osaka Railway Company, leaving many poor people homeless. Tachibana engages in a fierce battle with villains for the poor.
2
Prison Gambler
A film about the confrontation between two yakuza groups in the brutal Miike prison, which contained 1,500 inmates.
The second film in the series Gambler / Bakuto directed by Shigehiro Ozawa.
3
Gamblers and Racketeers
Komatsu Takioka is boss of a Yakuza group rival to Masakichi Kijima boss of the Kikuya group which supports the town vendors unlike Takioka, who will stop at nothing to undermine the vendors and take over the territory. Masakichi will do all he can to protect and support the people. Ryutaro Kijima is senior son to Masakichi, though disowned, he keeps interest in the family from a distance. He will be there for his father and his hot tempered younger brother Katsuo, if they should need his loyal help.
4
Seven Gamblers
Hanjiro, a one eyed vagrant arrives in Okinoshima to save the town from a violent Yakuza group with the help of six handicapped guys.
5
Three Gamblers
Three closely associated gamblers have adventures in Yokohama, Hokkaido, and Macao. Gambling trio endure hardships to rescue Naojiro’s family.
6
Gambler's Farewell
The story of men devoted to the yakuza lifestyle and their struggles during a time of fading yakuza power.
7
Gambler Biography
Historical Yakuza gangster film set the early years of the Showa era.
8
A Wad of Notes
A lone gambler tries to keep a yakuza family from taking over a festival in Kitakyushu. After away from his hometown for 13 years, Ryuji comes back and saves the town that is becoming run-down from yakuza’s ill deeds.
9
Sympathy for the Underdog
A yakuza gang gets driven out of Yokohama by a big gang from Tokyo. They relocate to Okinawa to violently start over.
10
The Gambler's Counterattack
Aiba is a gang boss who has just got out of jail, and finds everything has changed. His old gang has broken up, and only a few people still respect him. So he becomes a consultant to another gang who are about to be clobbered by a much larger gang moving in from out of town. Aiba proves a crafty tactician, and does very well at playing gangs off against each other in order to save the smaller gang. His advice is not always taken by those he tries to help, but he is generally proved right.
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