High and Low (1963): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
High and Low is a 1963 drama thriller directed by Akira Kurosawa, starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Toshirô Mifune and Takashi Shimura. It runs 2 hours 23 minutes and earned $64,503 worldwide. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 90 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 23m (143 min)
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Toho Company
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is High and Low About?
The premise of High and Low without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A wealthy industrialist’s life is thrown into turmoil when his son is kidnapped and a ransom demanded. Faced with an impossible choice, he must decide whether to pay the exorbitant sum or sacrifice the boy to protect his company and his family's future. This gripping thriller, directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune, explores themes of class, morality, and the devastating consequences of desperate choices in post-war Japan.
High and Low Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- chauffeur
- drug overdose
- class differences
- telephone
- house on a hill
- detective
- rich man
- junkie
- police
- japanese law enforcement
- murder
- medical intern
+38 more Show fewer
- telephone call
- ringing telephone
- shirt and tie
- bowing
- begging
- kimono
- suit and tie
- employer employee relationship
- pajama boy
- playing cowboys and indians
- disguise
- husband wife argument
- rich man poor man
- mother son relationship
- sliding door
- japanese mother
- pocket squares
- bald man
- short sleeved collared shirt
- white shirt
- threat
- harbor
- japanese nurse
- japanese doctor
- enoshima japan
- black man in japan
- man wears eyeglasses
- kidnapping a child
- man wears a suit and tie
- tracing a telephone call
- husband wife relationship
- woman wears a kimono
- police officer
- surveillance
- child drawings
- mercedes benz
- florist
- carnation
High and Low Cast
Tatsuya Nakadai leads the cast, with Toshirô Mifune and Takashi Shimura. Directed by Akira Kurosawa; 9 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Akira Kurosawa
Also Starring in High and Low
· 5 moreMore from Akira Kurosawa
More films directed by Akira Kurosawa, best-rated first: Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Ran and Ikiru.
High and Low Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave High and Low 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 90 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 96% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 95%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 90 Metascore
User score 8.4
See on Metacritic
High and Low Plot Summary
What happens in High and Low from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A wealthy executive, Kingo Gondo, finds himself embroiled in a fierce battle for control over a prominent company known as National Shoes. Facing immense pressure, he contemplates a pivotal choice: should the company produce cheap, low-quality shoes aimed at the impulse market, or uphold its reputation for crafting sturdy, high-quality footwear? Gondo’s vision for the business leans towards the latter, believing that maintaining high standards and modern styling is crucial for the company’s long-term success. Yet, this plan comes at the cost of immediate profits, a gamble that does not sit well with the current board members.
Full summary
The whole story of High and Low, scene by scene
High and Low Box Office
High and Low grossed $64,503 worldwide. $46,808 came from the US and Canada and $4,779 (9%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$64.5K
- US & Canada
- $46.8K
- International
- $4.8K
How Well Do You Know High and Low?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the wealthy executive struggling to maintain control of National Shoes?
High and Low Also Known As
34 alternative titles, including “天堂与地狱” and “Céu e o Inferno”.
- Also known as
-
- 天堂与地狱
- Céu e o Inferno
- El cielo y el infierno
- Рай и ад
- Himmel og helvede
- El infierno del odio
- Taivas ja helvetti
- Entre le ciel et l'enfer
- O dolofonos tou Tokyo
- Tengoku to jigoku
- The Ransom
- Menny és pokol
+22 more Show fewer
- Anatomia di un rapimento
- Cielo e infierno
- Niebo i piekło
- Između neba i zemlje
- Himmel och helvete
- Nebo a peklo
- Heaven and Hell
- 天國與地獄
- 천국과 지옥
- Himmel og helvete
- الجنة والجحيم
- Դրախտ և Դժոխք
- Zwischen Himmel und Hölle
- 天国与地狱
- Nebe a peklo
- גן עדן וגיהנום
- Yüksek ve Alçak
- Céu e Inferno
- Rojus ir pragaras
- Rai și iad
- Рай і пекло
- Ο δολοφόνος του Τόκιο, სამოთხე და ჯოჯოხეთი
Seen High and Low?
Movies Like High and Low
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including High and Low, Highest 2 Lowest and The Yakuza.
High and Low FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of High and Low, each answered in a sentence.
How long is High and Low?
High and Low runs 2 hours 23 minutes (143 minutes).
When was High and Low released?
High and Low was released on November 26, 1963.
Who directed High and Low?
High and Low was directed by Akira Kurosawa.
More films by Akira Kurosawa Who is in the cast of High and Low?
High and Low stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Toshirô Mifune and Takashi Shimura, among 9 credited actors.
How much did High and Low make at the box office?
High and Low grossed $64,503 worldwide ($46,808 domestic, $4,779 international).
How is High and Low rated?
High and Low has 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 90 on Metacritic.
Does High and Low have a post-credit scene?
No. High and Low has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is High and Low in?
The original language of High and Low is Japanese.
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