Not On DVD: The Crimson Kimono

The Crimson Kimono (1958)
dir. Sam Fuller

If you are a true lover of movies, then you are a fan of Sam Fuller. Fuller, a movie maverick, former newspaper man and thrilling raconteur gave us films that were entirely original. Every frame stamped with his mark. Just a hint of his dialog, framing or direction of the actors screamed a Sam Fuller movie. Some may find it over the top, more over though, it's a cinematic gut punch that the audience has to be willing to take.

Fuller was always forward looking and decided to take on the theme of race and racism from a very different perspective. The Crimson Kimono flip-flops the ideas so it is the minority of the picture who cries wolf. It's an interesting idea and deeper look into the human psyche than any Sidney Portier fist pumping portrayal could deliver.

A great opening scene, like all Fuller films, we get a stripper who is gunned down in the streets of Los Angeles. Homicide detectives Charlie Bankroft and Joe Kojaku are assigned to solve the murder. They were buddies in Korea and Joe even saved Charlie's life, so these guys are tight. They both fall for the same girl, Christine, who is a witness in the case. It beocmes an awkward love triangle, but it is Joe that Christine loves and end up breaking Charlies heart. When Charlie confronts Joe, Joe plays the race card. The film goes from murdeous melodrama into a tale about how we see ourselves through the faces of others. Luckily the murder plot and human issues are able to solve themselves in tidy little wrap up in the end.

It's an excellent addition to the Fuller cannon, but has let to see the light of day on DVD. It's not too shocking to know this is a Columbia Pictures release who seem to put nothing out on DVD unless it's new or an Oscar winner.

If you see this title floating around on TCM late at night, grab a drink and settle in for what Fuller would descibe as, "One hell of a yarn!"