Review: A Fugitive From The Past (1965) Arrow Video Blu-ray

Arrow Video have been releasing some Japanese cinema that fans have been clamoring for. The latest of those releases to receive the deluxe Blu-ray treatment is 1965's A Fugitive from the Past. This is the American home video debut of this film. 

A fugitive from the past is consider one of the best Japanese films. It was voted 3rd of the Top 100 best Japanese films of the 20th century. It was also a winner of 7 awards including Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Director and Screenplay.

In 1947, a freak typhoon sends a passenger ferry running between Hokkaido and mainland Japan plunging to the ocean depths, with hundreds of lives lost. During the chaos, three men are witnessed fleeing a burning pawnshop in the Hokkaido port town of Iwanai. The police suspect theft and arson, and when Detective Yumisaka (Junzaburo Ban) discovers the burned remains of a boat and the corpses of two men, he sets about tracking the shadowy third figure. Meanwhile, the mysterious Takichi Inukai (Rentaro Mikuni) takes shelter with a prostitute, Yae (Sachiko Hidari), a brief encounter that will come to define both of their lives. A decade later, long after the trail has gone cold, Yumisaka is called back by his successor Detective Ajimura (Ken Takakura) as two new dead bodies are found.

A Fugitive from the past is an extremely exciting and entertaining film. It is totally understandable why it was voted #3 on the Top 100 Japanese films of the 20th century. Tomu Uchida (Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji, The Mad Fox) reached the mountaintop of his directorial career with A Fugitive from the past.

The 183 minute-long cut of the film has been restored in High Definition in 1080p in it's original full screen format. The soundtrack is an uncompressed original Japanese mono audio. There is finally the option for English subtitles.

This new restoration brings a real crispness to the film. The picture quality is stellar. There is no signs of damage to this print whatsoever. But Arrow Video didn't stop at just a crisp new restoration. They added some bonus features that Japanese film fans may like. Take a look at what is included.

* Introduction by writer and curator Jasper Sharp

* Scene-specific commentaries from leading Japanese film scholars Aaron Gerow, Irene González-López, Erik Homenick, Earl Jackson, Daisuke Miyao and Alexander Zahlten

* Original theatrical trailer

* Image gallery

* Tomu Uchida filmography

* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella

* FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Fully illustrated collector's booklet featuring writing on the film by David Baldwin and Inuhiko Yomota

I grew up on Godzilla films with the bad dubbing. So needless to say I enjoy when the Japanese films receive the English dubs. But sadly this one didn't get that on this release. Also In comparison to other Arrow Video Blu-rays the bonus features are a bit paltry.

If you love Japanese cinema the Arrow Video Blu-ray release of A Fugitive from the Past is going to be a release you will want to add to your collection. Even with the less than stellar bonus features the restoration makes for a great release. Head over to Amazon and order your copy today.

Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) Arrow Videos Blu-ray release of A Fugitive From The Past receives...