Branded to Kill (Koroshi no rakuin) (殺しの烙印)

THE CRITERION COLLECTION

JANUS FILMS

Branded to Kill Directed by Seijun Suzuki, produced by NIKKATSU CORPORATION, 1967

This film was digitally restored in 2022, based on a 35mm original negative preserved by NIKKATSU CORPORATION.

Restored by NIKKATSU CORPORATION, The Japan Foundation Digital Restoration Services: Imagica Entertainment Media Services, Inc.

A NIKKATSU PRODUCTION

BRANDED TO KILL

Produced by KANEO IWAI

Screenplay by HACHIRO GURYU

Cinematography by KAZUE NAGATSUKA Lighting by SABURÔ MIO

Recording by YOSHINOBU AKINO Production Design by SUKEZO KAWAHARA

That's a huge ring.

It wasn't cheap.

Don't worry. I'm not after it.

Music by NAOZUMI YAMAMOTO

Theme Song 'Killing Blues' Performed by ATSUSHI YAMATOYA

Starring

JOE SHISHIDO

KOJI NANBARA

ISAO TAMAGAWA ANNU MARI

MARIKO OGAWA HIROSHI MINAMI

The sleepy killer

Shivered as if from the cold

Were you in bed with a woman

That's right.

Get a hot-water bottle.

Directed by SEIJUN SUZUKI

He took in the hot lead

HANEDA AIRPORT

And then he died

Kasuga.

Who's the lady?

My wife.

I need your help.

I got fired for bungling a job.

I wanna do something big so they'll take me back.

I got an offer, but they don't trust me to do it alone.

Hanada...

will you help me?

All right.

I've spent all my money.

I said boil some rice.

He wants rice.

Certainly.

Black Label for me. A double.

I couldn't stand the lonely life of a pro.

''Don't drink.''

''Don't fall in love.''

''Booze and women kill a killer.''

Give me a cola.

Five million just to escort him from Sagami Beach to Nagano?

He's a big shot in a certain organization.

It's not a bad job.

If nothing happens.

I hope nothing will. Will you do it?

There's 2,500,000 yen.

He'll pay the balance when you get him there.

You're ranked No. 3 among killers. I'm counting on your skill.

There's a '57 Saratoga in Shinagawa with keys under the bumper.

Call me at this number at least once.

You need something?

It's a horrible habit. Makes my skin crawl.

He loves the smell of boiling rice more than anything.

This aroma drives me wild. PALOMA PIEZOELECTRIC THERMAL RICE COOKER

Please stop.

My hubby can be terrifying.

What happened?

Look in back.

Appears to be the driver.

- Do we dump the body? - When we get there.

Single bullet to the heart. The work of a pro.

How can you tell?

- I was a pro too, until last year. - Who do you think did it?

Either No. 2, Sakura, or No. 4, Ko...

or maybe the mysterious No. 1.

He's just a rumor.

It's true no one's ever seen him,

but he exists.

The mysterious No. 1.

I wanted the glory of being No. 1 once.

Sir, you're used to risky situations, so I guess I can tell you.

A corpse was lying right where you are now.

Please do as we say.

Don't move unless we tell you to.

You know what to do.

Bad time to get the shakes. I need a drink.

I thought you were a pro.

SUNTORY WHISKY

Hello.

Yabuhara residence.

Is this 369-5551? I was told to call this number.

Yabuhara here.

We're at the checkpoint. So far so good.

I see. Then nothing's gonna happen.

I was ranked once.

Hanada, You know that, right?

Sorry.

I can do this job!

Hey, wake up!

Stop!

Hold on tight!

Sir, this way.

Jackass! Protect the client!

Hanada!

Kasuga!

You're drunk and he's not!

Gotta get closer to hit him.

Stop!

Ko!

It's me,

Kasuga!

Ko!

Not exactly the behavior of a pro.

A tough opponent is waiting to ambush us.

His name is Sakura. The two of them often worked together.

- Where are you going? - To get their car.

I thought I just lost my fee.

Why did you fire?

What do we do now?

I guess we keep going.

Maybe they'll think it's Ko coming back.

Sakura, you haven't got a chance!

Hanada? I wasn't expecting you!

- You've fallen in the rankings. - What?

Come out and see!

Tell me your ranking.

Tell me your ranking.

Are you married?

I hate men.

So you have no hope for the future.

My dream is to die.

You're crazy!

You slut!

Darling, take me.

Pervert! Sex fiend!

Beast!

Boil some rice.

I don't wanna.

I said boil some rice.

Darling...

Enough already, you freak!

NIPPON SPORT DAILY - CRAZY

RACING FORM

MATSUDO KEIRIN

Darling...

come shopping with me.

Just as I thought:

You're only nice during sex.

1967.5.4 - THURSDAY - OSAKA FACTORY THE OLD GUARD IS KILLED. EXTENSION WORKER TURNS HIMSELF IN.

Four more targets. Usual fee, usual method.

- All right. As soon as possible.

- I'll take care of it. - Are you sure?

If you're worried, hire someone else.

The pictures should be in your mailbox by now.

Oh, and regards to your wife.

CUSTOMS AGENT - 42 YEARS OLD 00 A.M.

MILO AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER SANSHO-BUSSAN CO., LTD

MEIEN-GAI

NAGATACHO BUILDING DR. HINO - OPTOMETRIST

NAGATACHO BUILDING - Completed in 1966

You take it out so often.

Quit whining!

That hurt.

JEWELER - 57 YEARS OLD THE NAKAMORI BUILDING

I need this done quickly!

There's a little problem.

What's holding you up?

I'll do it soon.

Who the hell -

MILO GAS LIGHTER

Orient CO. Furrier - Mrs. M. Hanada Receipt Card: No. 02 - Receipt Date: 12 JUN 1967

Price: ¥550.000 - Commodity: tippet mink NISHI 4 CHOME GINZA CHUOKU TOKYO - JAPAN

Fool! It's almost summer. Stop throwing money away.

Take it back!

Who is she?

You've been blowing money too - on her!

Pervert!

You're insane!

How did you know I live here?

Your wife's just as I expected.

What do you want?

There's a foreigner I want you to kill.

I rented a room. You can shoot him from there.

He usually takes a woman by the left arm.

You'll only see us for three seconds.

- You'll only have three seconds. - What do you mean?

- I refuse. - You can't. You already know too much.

Who's behind this?

Just me. My name is Misako Chujo.

You'll be paid 1,500,000 yen.

Three seconds?

I'll move out of the way.

You'll have a fifth of a second to hit his heart, a two-inch target.

That's superhuman.

I've heard you're like a god.

It might be possible, but a pro would prefer a safer way.

Is there any?

This is the only way.

I might hit you.

You're beautiful.