Red Peony Gambler Trilogy [Film Movement] 

Now available on VOD and Digital from Film Movement 

A bit of a misnomer, these are the first three in a series that, if IMDB is to be believed, has a ton of entries. 

Red Peony Gambler (1968)
In this first entry in the series, we are introduced to Oryu, a gambler who wants the respect of her male peers and ends up in situations that require her to take charge and become a boss herself. This one sets the tone for this “trilogy”, introducing characters, their place in their society and in the story, and it makes for decent entertainment. This is a film that some will absolutely want to see, and others will not want to watch passed the 20 minutes mark. The film here is well-written and directed with good performances, but it is incredibly dated, so a film that has all the markings for a yakuza film with a female lead and lots of fights is low on fights and high on the talking. The settings are beautiful, the costumes as well, and the new high-definition scan available now is of high quality in terms of image and sound.  

Red Peony Gambler 2: Gambler’s Obligation (1968)
The second film presented here follows Oryu as she becomes more respected and faces new issues. This one is a bit less entertaining than the first, still really well-shot and with talent behind the camera in every department. The cast does well as well, but something is missing to the story, something doesn’t connect as well. As for the new transfer, it’s also good but there is a hair on the either the transfer, the negative used, or perhaps it was on the camera at the time of filming, but it is distracting.  

Red Peony Gambler 3: The Flower Cards Game (1972)
The third film presented here and it’s definitely a case of diminishing returns. Here, Oryu comes back to gambling when a man she respects puts on a party and is attacked. She feels a responsibility and must make things better. The story here is ok, performances remain, like in the other two, solid performances that work for the material, but the material itself seems to be losing appeal. Perhaps this is a case of watching these back-to-back and watching them separately would help make them more independent from each other and more interesting. As is with the other two, the transfer and sound are good here, and no technical issues were noticed.  

These three films have they good elements and their not as good elements, they are must-see in terms of being historically important and for those who love a leading lady who takes charge and earns her respect from her male peers. For those expecting a more violent film series, say like Lady Snowblood, this isn’t the place to look for a ton of action. While there is action, it is limited, and the films are more drama than any other genre.