THE VALIANT RED PEONY: Red Peony Gambler I-III (Masters of Cinema)Standard Edition Two-Disc - Blu-ray

Originally released between 1968 and 1972, the Red Peony Gamblerseries is a cornerstone of the ninkyo eiga genre and a clear influence on such cult favourites such as Lady Snowblood and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the first three Red Peony Gambler films, starring Sumiko Fuji (13 Assassins) and directed by three titans of Japanese genre cinema in Kōsaku Yamashita, Norifumi Suzuki and Tai Katō.

Set during the Meiji era, Red Peony Gamblerstars Fuji as Ryuko Yano, the daughter of a gambler. When her father is murdered, Ryuko takes on a new name derived from the crimson flower tattooed on her shoulder – “Oryu, the Red Peony” – and sets out for revenge. Then, in Red Peony Gambler 2: Gambler’s Obligation, Oryu falls in with a group of yakuza attempting to monopolise the silk trade. When machinations within the gang lead to a betrayal, the Red Peony takes action. Finally, in Red Peony Gambler 3: The Flower Cards Game, Oryu meets a pair of star-crossed lovers as she becomes embroiled in a conflict between rival yakuza clans.

Fuji would go on to play the Red Peony five more times, cementing the character as the archetype for many of the vengeful women to follow in Japanese cinema and beyond. These early entries in the Red Peony Gambler series are presented here on Blu-ray from new restorations of the original film elements by Toei.

SPECIAL EDITION TWO-DISC BLU-RAY FEATURES:

HD presentation of all three films from restorations of the original film elements supplied by Toei | Original Japanese audio tracks (uncompressed LPCM mono) | Optional English subtitles | Audio commentary tracks by Chris Poggiali (Red Peony Gambler), Mike Leeder & Arne Venema (Gambler’s Obligation) and Tom Mes (The Flower Cards Game) | Tony Rayns on The Valiant Red Peony – interview with critic and East Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns | Trailers

PRESS

“[Red Peony Gambler] Yamashita's classically constructed script subordinates action to character and makes good use of romantic and comic sub-plots. Yamashita also has a flair for minor characterization that makes each scene rich in emotional detail and gives depth to conventional material.” - The Village Voice

“[Red Peony Gambler II] The way that all of the various threads come together in the third act is practically perfect in every way” – Blood Brothers

“[Red Peony Gambler III] the darkest, most complex and ultimately also the best part of the series so far”

– Nippon Cinema