Lupin III: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy (1974)

Lupin III: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy (1974) dir. Takashi Tsuboshima, Toho/International Television Films

Bit of an odd one this time out. What we have here is not only the first Lupin the 3rd film, but also the first live-action adaption. Some liberties were taken, but how did it stack up?



Lupin the 2nd is dead and his criminal empire is in ruins. The last loyal member of the gang, Jigen (Kunie Tanaka), still has hope. His master had a son, Lupin the 3rd (Yuki Meguro) and surely the young man will want to continue the family tradition, right?

Yeah, no. Lupin III is far more concerned with getting the heart; or parts lower at least, of female thief Fujiko Mine (Eizo Ezaki). So much so he breaks her out of prison in exchange for a date. He succeeds, but is left alone and dressed in her prison togs when she escapes. She agreed to a date, never the length after all.

This gets Lupin on the radar on none other than the famed Inspector Zenigata (Shiro Ito) who seems convinced that Lupin is some kind of criminal. He is, of course, but not to the extent that the inspector thinks.

Rival crime families, on the other hand, are more on the ball. A new Lupin running around could be bad for business, so a word goes out to the Underworld: Lupin-Dead or Alive.

Not terrible, but boy did they change some stuff. Lupin's family and background were lightly touched on in the manga/anime. Likewise with Jigen who was always a peer to Lupin and not a senior. There's no Goemon Ishikawa (were samurai swords too expensive?) and Zenigata is, oh boy.

Zenigata is certainly a comedic one but deadpan. He's very serious when the situation isn't and thus funnier. Here? He rants, raves, threatens his bumbling squad, and has a running gag of getting more injured throughout the film.

Fujiko is good. She doesn't resemble the character physically that much but she does capture her spirit. Her playing card motif was used more in the anime pilot film though, so casual fans may not get why she's attacking people with playing cards.

None of this explains the leather clad singing nuns though.