Kosaku Yamashita was a highly creative director who flourished in the 60s with a prolific output of stylish ninkyo eiga, (Yakuza) films. He had an exceptional talent for the creation of dramatic action, tales driven by conflicted & engaging characters interconnected in a tense social underworld environment..
Tetsu, the White Tiger is primarily about, honourable & noble yakuza caught in a conflict between rival clans, and obligations each has toward their yakuza boss & brothers. There is a rich layer of human emotion even some romance. Flat colours help to generate a dense tone with an emotive score , great script, terrific acting , the action packed knife wielding encounters are stunning, violent & bloody. I love the fearless courage, the nobility of a hardened Yakuza soul, one who thinks nothing of marching up single handed to confront the rival mob.
The story is not quite up there with his incredible, Bakuchi-uchi: socho tobaku from the same year, however a master of the ninkyo eiga, .Kosaku Yamashita's Tetsu the White Tiger is Highly Recommended