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MOVIE DECISION GUIDE
High and Low
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. With Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kyōko Kagawa.
8.4/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
A Yokohama shoe executive faces a wrenching choice when kidnappers mistakenly seize his chauffeur’s son but demand the ransom anyway.
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8.4/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTA Yokohama shoe executive faces a wrenching choice when kidnappers mistakenly seize his chauffeur’s son but demand the ransom anyway.
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for High and Low.
MoviHero lists March 1, 1963 as the release date for High and Low. Akira Kurosawa is the listed director. The listed cast includes Toshirō Mifune as Kingo Gondo, Tatsuya Nakadai as Chief Detective Tokura, Kyōko Kagawa as Reiko Gondo, Tatsuya Mihashi as Kawanishi, Gondo's secretary. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateMarch 1, 1963
GenresDrama · Crime · Mystery · Thriller
Runtime2h 22m
DirectorAkira Kurosawa
CastToshirō Mifune as Kingo Gondo, Tatsuya Nakadai as Chief Detective Tokura, Kyōko Kagawa as Reiko Gondo, Tatsuya Mihashi as Kawanishi, Gondo's secretary
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is High and Low right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
High and Low runs 2h 22m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 5/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 9/10. Consider saving this for a night when you can concentrate.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 8/10, suggesting a stronger emotional experience. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with High and Low. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 8.4/10 from 1,239 votes. Updated Nov 13, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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CHECK AVAILABILITY
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OPTION 2
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing5/10
Emotional Impact8/10
Mind-Bending5/10
Scary2/10
Violence6/10
Rewatchability7/10
Attention Required9/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about High and Low
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“A well worked, high stake crime thriller. The stakes are deeply personal to our main characters and puts them in an impossible situation. The performances…”
Viewer reaction
“I didn't take to this initially. The scenario reminded me a little of an episode of "Columbo" - a rather sterile, studio-set environment that came…”
Viewer reaction
“I’m always amazed at how a single film can be fundamentally characterized in multiple ways, but that’s understandable when the picture combines an array of…”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“A woman wears a hat on her head, but shoes carry all her weight.”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherKingo GondoKingo Gondo in High and Low (1963), played by Toshirō Mifune.Open character guide otherChief Detective TokuraChief Detective Tokura in High and Low (1963), played by Tatsuya Nakadai.Open character guide otherReiko GondoReiko Gondo in High and Low (1963), played by Kyōko Kagawa.Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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