The Yakuza

Music by Dave Grusin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curious variation in the police soundtracks tradition, The Yakuza (1975) avoided the action and focused his voice in dramatic subtleties. Unlike Lalo Schifrin, who also invested in eastern reference for Enter the Dragon, Grusin opted for suspense and drama.

While Schifrin incurred through dynamic and muscular music, Grusin preferred the psychological subtlety since the dramas and duties between characters mean a lot more for the movie than the physical spectacle. The main theme, for example, is sweet and thoughtful and much of the music is delicate and precise as a Japanese print. The movie has its big action scenes - essential in a thriller from the 70s – but the music dodges truculence and focuses on reminiscences or suspense. Balancing between the west (blues, jazz) and east, moments like 20 Years Montage and Girl and Tea are luminous moments in its refinement. Even in the violent final confrontation - the track Big Fight  - the music is subtle, referring the suspense and anticipation. The romantic Sayonara would be a previous model of what Grusin would do in future Pollack movies. The bonus tracks Blues Combo and Shine On, are jazz pieces for moments of source music. The Yakuza, first collaboration between Grusin and Pollack, is possibly the less pop oriented work and the most cinematographic of the composer.