Branded to Kill

Branded to Kill (殺しの烙印, Koroshi no rakuin) is a 1967 Japanese crime thriller directed by Seijun Suzuki. The plot depicts Goro Hanada (Jô Shishido), the Japanese yakuza Number Three Killer with a fetish for the smell of boiling rice. In his attempts to climb to the very top in the bloody business Hanada meets and falls in love with a mysterious woman named Misako, who recruits him for a mission that Hanada fails. Due to this, he becomes a target for the Number One Killer.
This low budget, surrealistic and absurdist movie originally was a commercial and critical disappointment for the studio. But over time Branded to Kill was recognized as a cult classic and made influence for notable filmmakers, among which are Jim Jarmusch, John Woo, Chan-wook Park and Quentin Tarantino.
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Note!! Most, if not all guns in the movie turn out to be not real weapons but rather replicas, likely flashpaper guns. These guns are named by the models they are based on (when possible), with mentioning the features that allow to tell they are not real.
= Handguns =
== Custom Mauser C96 ==
Goro Hanada uses a flashpaper replica of custom Mauser C96 pistol, modified for using twenty-round detachable magazine, like Mauser M712 Schnellfeuer. The main non-standard feature of this gun is the lack of any kind of safety. Other oddities are the large ring hammer that is positioned lower than on standard early C96s with this feature, smooth slide rails that are common for "Prewar Commercial" version, and no markings on the frame. In action Hanada's Mauser fires in full auto mode despite it lacks the selector switch of Schnellfeuer model.
== Colt Model 1903 / Ruby Style Pistol 1 ==
A hammerless pistol, resembling Colt Model 1903 (but with shorter barrel and more angular shapes) or pistols of the Ruby family, is seen in numerous scenes. A single prop is reused, while these are different guns according to the story. Misako Nakajo (Annu Mari) holds a pistol during the failed assassination. Further same looking pistol is seen in hands of Mami Hanada (Mariko Ogawa). After she drops the gun and runs away, Hamada picks up the gun and uses it as his main gun until the final.
== Colt Model 1903 / Ruby Style Pistol 2 ==
In the climactic scene Hanada's pistol switches to another gun, of roughtly same appearance but without any kind of magazine, even the fake one.
== FN Model 1910 ==
Number One Killer (Koji Nanbara) is armed with an FN Model 1910. Unlike most other guns in the movie, this one looks quite authentic (at least Hanada opens the slide and extracts the magazine). The FN 1910 isn't used in action.
== Smith & Wesson Model 10 Snub Nose Style ==
Gihei Kasuga (Hiroshi Minami) carries a snub nose revolver. His gun is based on Smith & Wesson Model 10 Snub Nose but differs in details, such as the shape of the front sight, the simplified details of the cylinder and seemingly too thin walls of the barrel.
== Luger P08 Style ==
During the ambush on the road, one of the rival criminals is armed with a pistol, styled like Luger P08.
== Luger P04 "Marine" Style ==
Another ambusher is armed with a pistol, styled like Luger P04 "Marine" with 15cm barrel.
== Luger LP08 "Artillery" Style ==
Koh (uncredited), the Number Four Killer, uses a pistol, styled like Luger LP08 "Artillery", during the shootout with Kasuga.
= Rifles =
== Stirling Model 20 ==
Hanada uses a Stirling Model 20 .22 semi auto rifle with sniper scope for two assassinations. Later same rifle (according to the plot, this is a different weapon) is used by Misako. After Misako's abduction, Hanada takes her rifle and uses it, fitted with the sniper scope, for the shootout on the breakwater and during the confrontation with Number One Killer.
== Remington Nylon 66 ==
During the ambush in the wartime fort, Sakura (uncredited), the Number Two Killer, is armed with a Remington Nylon 66 rifle.
== Howa Model 300==
During the shootout on the breakwater, several of Number One's henchmen are armed with Howa M300 semi-auto rifle. 
= Trivia =
Category:Movie
Category:B&W
Category:Action Movie
Category:Crime
Category:Thriller
Category:Japanese Produced/Filmed