House of Bamboo (1955)

A Near Miss, 23 July 2005

I'm really not quite sure why House of Bamboo doesn't work better than it does. It's got a good cast headed by Robert Ryan and Robert Stack. It's got a very accomplished director in Samuel Fuller. As far as technical aspects go, I have no complaints. It's a beautifully shot film. It's got some wonderful locations. The streets of 1954 Tokyo make for a fascinating setting for an American movie. And, it was shot in Cinemascope.

So what keeps me from rating it any higher? The simple answer is The Writing. It's just not interesting. Far too much time is spent on one of the silliest romances I've ever seen. A woman's husband has died and she immediately falls in love with the next man she meets. It's sappy, corny, and totally unbelievable. There is far too little action. We only see the gang pull off one very quick holdup. And the dialogue doesn't resonate with me. Ryan doesn't sound like what I would expect the leader of a gang of thieves to sound. And the dialogue between Stack and Shirley Yamaguchi can be cringe inducing in places.

Still, House of Bamboo has enough going for it that I did find some enjoyment in watching it. If nothing else, it's a interesting time capsule on an era long gone. And, personally, I got a kick out of seeing cult hero Cameron Mitchell in a very early role.

5/10