But Mifune wants to continue making quality shoes. He plans to persevere by buying up shares until he can outvote his enemies. He has mortgaged all he owns to do so, but has bad timing. The son of his chauffeur is kidnapped. Mifune calls the police, but they are initially of little use. Mifune finally pays the lucrative ransom, which means he won't be able to buy the additional shares, and will lose his position at National Shoe. He is a ruined man.
The police feel sorry for Mifune, and are doubly motivated to find the kidnapper. Persistence in following leads gradually cracks the case. One surreal incident involves the suspect picking up a strung out heroin addict in order to test his deadly formula.
How others will see it. Legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa is best known for his samurai epics, of which there are many. But he made crime dramas as well, such as Stray Dog (1949) and the present film. Every Kurosawa film that I have seen was worth tracking down.
However, those who care only about his samurai output, or those who find subtitles and black and white cinematography to be inaccessible, will probably channel surf right past it. On the other hand, those who like crime dramas (a larger audience than for samurai epics) will find the second half of High and Low fascinating.
How I felt about it. Akira Kurosawa has to be one of the most consistent directors. Every film of his that I have seen grades in the 70s or better. He has to be considered to be one of the best directors of all time, although I still prefer Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock had many misfires, but he also directed at least two films (Rebecca and Strangers on a Train) that are better than any of Kurosawa's output. Kurosawa is best known for The Seven Samurai (1954), but I remain loyal to Throne of Blood (1957).
Cultural differences between 1963 Japan and modern America make parts of the plot hard to accept. What American businessman would pay a ransom for his son's chauffeur? Wouldn't the police provide the ransom money (as in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)), instead of expecting it to come from Mifune? If not, given the publicity Mifune's ransom generated, wouldn't he receive an influx of cash donations from sympathetic Japanese? And is Mifune ruined? He still owns 28% of National Shoe, and most of the ransom money is returned to him. Further, would a medical intern become obsessed with the wealthy Mifune? In America, that intern would in a few years be making $150K per year. These discrepancies would be trouble spots in an American screenplay, but we must remember the warning of Rudyard Kipling: "East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." But then again, he was probably referring to India.
Mike Nichols (The Graduate) is slated to release a U.S. remake of High and Low in 2012. This would bring the story full circle, since it originated as a novel ("King's Ransom") by American writer Evan Hunter, under the pseudonym Ed McBain.