Norifumi Suzuki (鈴木 則文, Suzuki Norifumi, November 26, 1933 – May 15, 2014), was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is best known for the Torakku Yarō series.[1]

Norifumi Suzuki
Japanese: 鈴木 則文
Born(1933-11-26)November 26, 1933
DiedMay 15, 2014(2014-05-15) (aged 80)
Other namesNoribumi Suzuki
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter
Years active1968–1990

Biography

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Suzuki was born in 1933[2] in Shizuoka. He dropped out of Ritsumeikan University's Department of Economics, and subsequently joined Toei's Kyoto Studio as an assistant director in 1956, learning his craft under Masahiro Makino, Tai Kato and Tomu Uchida. He made his screenwriting debut on director Kōkichi Uchide's 1963 film Zoku: Tenamonya Sandogasa (co-written with Takaharu Sawada), and his directorial debut in 1965 with Osaka Dokonjō Monogatari: Doerai Yatsu, starring Makoto Fujita.

At the behest of Toei producer Shigeru Okada, Suzuki wrote the script for female gambler film Red Peony Gambler (1968) starring Junko Fuji, which became a hit series spanning eight films.

He directed Star of David: Beautiful Girl Hunter (1979).[3]

His 1975 film Torakku Yarō: Goiken Muyō, starring Bunta Sugawara and co-written with Shinichiro Sawai, was also a huge success and spawned nine sequels.

After directing and co-writing Kōtaro Makaritōru! (1984), Suzuki left Toei to go freelance.

At the 1985 Yokohama Film Festival, he was awarded a special prize for his career.[4]

Suzuki's last film was Binbari High School, released in 1990 and produced by Kōji Wakamatsu. He died at the age of 80 in May 2014.[5]

Filmography

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As director

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Screenplay

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Bibliography

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  • Torakku Yaro Fuunroku (2010)
  • Toei Gerira Senki (2013)
  • Shin Torakku Yaro Fuunroku (2014)

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ Sharp, Jasper (3 May 2006). "Midnight Eye review: School of the Holy Beast". Midnight Eye.
  2. ^ Rauger, Jean-François (10 June 2011). "Cinéma bis: Norifumi Suzuki". Cinémathèque Française (in French). Archived from the original on 5 February 2015.
  3. ^ Perkins, Rodney (22 June 2009). "DVD Review: Norifumi Suzuki's STAR OF DAVID". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Awards for Norifumi Suzuki". IMDb. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
  5. ^ 映画監督の鈴木則文さん死去 「トラック野郎」シリーズ. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 17 May 2014.
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