With an expansive franchise that is still going strong after more than 50 years since it's first publication it's no surprise that the legendary assassin Golgo 13 would eventually find himself making his big screen debut in glorious live action. The Golgo film series consists of two full length movies that were both released in the mid to late 70s. They are:
- Golgo 13 (1973) - Golgo's first major film which stars famous Japanese actor Ken Takakura (Who Golgo was originally modeled after) in the lead role as Golgo himself. The film was notably filmed almost entirely in Iran and featured a majority of Persian actors in the supporting cast, including Golgo's main female companion for the movie played by actress Poori Banai.
- Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1977) - A sequel film that replaces Takakura's role as the titular hitman with with that of legendary martial artist and celebrity Sonny Chiba. This time the movie is set in Hong Kong with Golgo hired by an American crime syndicate to assassinate a powerful drug kingpin.
While both titles are fairly obscure outside of Japan (though Assignment Kowloon did get included as part of the "Kill Chiba" collection by Crash Cinema) they remain a hot collectors item for fans of the series to this day.
The golgo 13 film series provides examples of:
Golgo 13
- Bittersweet Ending: Golgo ultimately saves the human trafficking victims with inspector Aman's help and kills the head of the organization, Max Boa, in the finale but the inspector soon dies in his wife's arms after being mortally wounded in the preceding gunfight and Golgo's contact Catherine is executed in retaliation for Golgo not revealing himself to Boa's men at the showdown in Persepolis.
- Boom, Headshot!: This is a Golgo 13 movie, it's pretty much a given that Duke Togo will rack up at least a couple of these by the end. This naturally includes Big Bad Max Boa, whom he snipes through the forehead while the bastard is enjoying some tea at his manor house.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Both Catherine Morton and inspector Aman Jafari do this at the showdown in Persepolis. Catherine allows herself to be shot by Boa's men to protect Golgo and the inspector goes down fighting the last of Boa's goons to rescue the human trafficking victims, which include his wife Sheila.
- Hostage Situation: Just to prove he can't possibly go any lower Max Boa orders his men to start shooting the women they kidnapped if Golgo doesn't show himself, included among them both Duke's contact Catherine and the police inspector's wife Sheila. Ultimately, Sheila is saved by her husband at the cost of his life but Duke Togo isn't quick enough to save Catherine and she is gunned down after declaring her love for him.
- Human Traffickers: Max Boa and his men are ruthless human traffickers that have been kidnapping girls from all over Iran. He's even willing to use them as hostages to draw Golgo out of hiding and has his men shoot a few before making his escape.
- I Have Your Wife: The main reason Golgo is called in to kill Max Boa in the first place is because he kidnapped the client's daughter. His men also capture the inspector's wife Sheila and hold her hostage near the end of the movie.
- Right-Hand Cat: Non-cat example, the Big Bad Max Boa keeps a pet parrot named Julie that he treats far better than anyone working for him. She's mostly used to highlight just how little he cares about the lives of the human beings around him.
- R-Rated Opening: The first scene of the movie follows a guy walking down a dark alley before he gets jumped by some goons, savagely beaten, tortured and commits suicide to avoid giving away any information to his captors.
- Sympathetic Inspector Antagonist: Despite being a decent man overall police inspector Aman Jafari is technically Golgo's enemy for most of the first two thirds of the film. He finally comes around to Golgo's side during the final showdown with Max Boa's gang and teams up with Duke to rescue his wife and dies saving her.
- Undercover as Lovers: Golgo and his contact Catherine pose as a newlywed couple visiting Iraq to keep suspicion off themselves. Apparently, the cover is so thorough that it even requires her to actually sleep with him to maintain the ruse! Now that's dedication to the job.
Assignment Kowloon
- Adaptation Distillation: The main storyline of Golgo having to disassemble a Hong Kong-based drug syndicate has been used twice in "The Target Has Returned" note and in "Kowloon Wolf". note Golgo's client in the film, Rocky Brown, comes from the former story, while Sminny, the film's Sympathetic Inspector Antagonist, appears in the former. The female assassin who steals Golgo's kill in the middle of the movie was the title character in "Cassowary" note , and some of the action scenes were adapted from "Angry Waves"note .
- Adaptational Sexuality: Rocky Brown, Golgo's client, is hinted at having a relationship with a transvestite. In the manga, there is no indication of his homosexuality.
