Silent Ozu: Three Crime Dramas (Criterion Collection - Eclipse Series 42)

Before the "most Japanese" of all film directors secured his reputation as a master of the domestic drama, Yasujiro Ozu dwelled in the realm of the crime film in these three rare silent features. First, "Walk Cheerfully" (1930) tells the story of a small-time crook who attempts to go straight to keep a girlfriend by his side. Minoru Takada, Hiroko Kawasaki star. Next, "That Night's Wife" (1930) finds a family man driven to criminal acts over the course of a single night. Tokihiko Okada, Emiko Yagumo star. Finally, "Dragnet Girl" (1933) spins the complex yarn of a thug whose girlfriend becomes impatient with his attraction to a protégé's sister. Kinuyo Tanaka, Joji Oka, and Sumiko Mizukubo star. 4 1/3 hrs. total on three discs. Standard; Soundtrack: music score. Silent with music score.