Black Lizard and Black Rose Mansion Blu-ray

Black Lizard and Black Rose Mansion bring together two Japanese films directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starring Akihiro Miwa, credited as Akihiro Maruyama. The pairing explores two worlds of theatrical glamour, obsession and dangerous romance.

Black Lizard, released in 1968, draws on Edogawa Rampo's novel through Yukio Mishima's stage adaptation. A jewel thief who treasures beauty challenges detective Akechi with a planned kidnapping and diamond theft. Miwa stars alongside Isao Kimura, Yusuke Kawazu and Kikko Matsuoka, with music by Isao Tomita.

The 1969 film Black Rose Mansion reunites Miwa and Fukasaku in an original story of a mysterious woman and a fugitive young man. Masakazu Tamura joins the cast as their relationship develops into a love that defies the danger surrounding them.

The two films run approximately 87 and 90 minutes, respectively, and their original trailers accompany this two-disc Blu-ray release. Both use Japanese Linear PCM mono audio and have no subtitles. Some picture and sound imperfections remain because of the age of the original film materials.