Doberman Cop | Blu-ray & DVD (Arrow Video)
RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2017
On June 27th, 2017, Arrow Video is releasing Kinji Fukasaku’s Doberman Cop (read our review) on Blu-ray & DVD. Never before released on video outside of Japan, this 1977 thriller stars Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba as a Dirty Harry-type character. Read the official details below:
Released just as the popularity of yakuza movies was waning in Japan, and as the country’s film industry was undergoing some fundamental shifts, Doberman Cop is a unique entry in the career of director Kinji Fukasaku (Battles Without Honor and Humanity, Cops vs Thugs), and reunited him with star Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba (Battles Without Honor and Humanity Vol. 2: Hiroshima Death Match) in an American-style crime movie that mixes gunplay and pulp fiction with martial arts and lowbrow comedy to create one of their most entertaining films.
Based on a popular manga by “Buronson” (creator of Fist of the North Star), Doberman Cop follows the fish-out-of-water adventures of Joji Kano (Chiba), a tough-as-nails police officer from Okinawa who arrives in Tokyo’s Kabuki-cho nightlife district to investigate the savage murder and mutilation of an island girl who had been working as a prostitute. Initially dismissed as a country bumpkin (complete with straw hat and live pig in tow!), Kano soon proves himself a more savvy detective than the local cops, and a tougher customer than anyone expected. As he probes deeper into the sleazy world of flesh-peddling, talent agency corruption and mob influence, Kano uncovers the shocking truth about the girl, her connection to a yakuza-turned-music manager (Hiroki Matsukata), and a savage serial killer who is burning women alive.
Made to appeal both to the youth market with its biker gangs and popular music, as well as to old-time yakuza movie fans, Doberman Cop is an surprising oddity in Fukasaku’s career, his sole film adapted directly from a manga and never before released on video outside of Japan. Featuring Chiba at his charismatic best — channeling a Japanese Dirty Harry while doing all his own stunts — and Fukasaku at his most fun, deftly showcasing the combined talents of his “Piranha Army” stock company of actors and other regular players — Doberman Cop is a classic action comedy and a missing link in 1970’s Japanese cinema deserving of rediscovery.
Special Features:
- High Definition digital transfer
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- Optional English subtitles
- Beyond the Film: Doberman Cop, a new video appreciation by Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane
- New video interview with actor Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba
- New video interview with screenwriter Koji Takada
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon
- First Pressing Only: Illustrated collector’s book featuring new writing on the films by Patrick Macias
Pre-order from Doberman Cop Amazon.com today!
Arrow are absolutely killing it with these releases…I’ve never bought this many fresh off the shelf titles for a long time.
Dear God, Arrow is a BEAST!!!!! I’ve always wanted to see Doberman cop!
This is a personal favorite, and I truly hope Arrow continues with the Fukasaku/Chiba releases.
I’m not 100% certain, but I do believe The NEW BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR trilogy is coming as well as WOLVES,PIGS, & MEN. If true, this would truly make me one happy fan.