Golgo 13 (1973)
The legendary manga assassin Duke Togo comes to life in this gripping 1973 Japanese-Iranian action thriller.
Golgo 13 - Movie Information
- Original Title: ゴルゴ13
- Release Year: 1973
- Directed by: Junya Satō
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Crime
- Runtime: 1h 44m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese, Persian, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 29, 1973 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: ゴルゴ13 (JP), Golgo 13 (UK), Голго 13 (RU), Golgo Sizdah (IR)
- Production Companies: Toei Company, Société Anonyme Cinématographique
- Production Countries: Japan, Iran
Golgo 13 - Plot
Live-action adaptation of the hit manga. Golgo 13, also known by the pseudonym Duke Togo, is a professional assassin. His age and birthplace are unknown and there is no consensus in the worldwide intelligence community as to his true identity. Most of his jobs are completed through the use of a customized, scoped M16 rifle. Golgo 13 is contracted to kill Boss Goa, the head of a worldwide crime syndicate responsible for drugs, weapons, and human trafficking.
Golgo 13 - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Duke Togo in action:
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Golgo 13 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Junya Satō
Main Cast
- Ken Takakura
- Yasuo Yamada
- Pouri Banaei
- Nosratollah Karimi
- Ahmad Ghadakchian
- Mohsen Sohrabi
- Jaleh Sam
- Tahere Ghaffari
- Yadollah Shirandami
- Jalal Pishvaian
Writers
- K. Motomitsu
- Takao Saito
Producers
- Morteza Jafari
- Sunao Sakagami
Golgo 13 - FAQs
Who plays Golgo 13 in the 1973 film?
Ken Takakura brings the legendary assassin Duke Togo to life in this 1973 live-action adaptation. Takakura was one of Japan's most iconic screen presences, and his cool, stoic charisma made him a natural fit for the enigmatic, near-mythical hitman of the manga.
Is Golgo 13 based on a manga?
Yes, absolutely. Golgo 13 is a direct live-action adaptation of Takao Saito's long-running manga series of the same name, which launched in 1968. The manga follows the same professional assassin, Duke Togo, and remains one of the longest-running manga series in history.
What is Golgo 13 about?
Golgo 13 follows Duke Togo, a mysterious and deadly professional assassin whose true identity is unknown to global intelligence agencies. He's hired to take down Boss Goa, the ruthless leader of a worldwide crime syndicate dealing in drugs, weapons, and human trafficking. Expect cool action and a shadowy international thriller atmosphere.
Where can you stream Golgo 13 (1973)?
You can stream Golgo 13 on several platforms, including Retrocrush, AsianCrush, Midnight Pulp, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, and RetroCrush Amazon Channel. Free options are also available on Plex, Plex Channel, and Fawesome, while Cineverse offers it with ads.
Was Golgo 13 a Japan-Iran co-production?
Yes, and that makes it genuinely unique for its era. Golgo 13 (1973) was a joint production between Japan's Toei Company and Iran's Société Anonyme Cinématographique, featuring a mixed cast of Japanese and Iranian actors. The film was shot across both countries, giving it a distinctive international flavor rare for Japanese action cinema of the time.
How long is the 1973 Golgo 13 film?
The film runs for 1 hour and 44 minutes (104 minutes), which is a solid runtime for an action thriller of its era. It keeps things moving at a brisk pace, fitting for a story centered on a relentless, no-nonsense assassin.
What are similar films to Golgo 13?
If you enjoy Golgo 13, you might also like Enter the Dragon (1973), The Way of the Dragon (1972), and Crying Freeman (1995) for similar action and assassin-thriller vibes. Editorial picks also include A Colt Is My Passport (1967), Mr. Long (2017), and The Killer (2022) for fans of stylish hitman cinema.
Who directed the 1973 Golgo 13 film?
Junya Satō directed the 1973 Golgo 13 film. Satō was a prolific Japanese filmmaker known for his work across action and drama genres. He brought the manga's cold, methodical assassin to the screen with a style that matched the source material's tense, international espionage atmosphere.
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