Black Line (1960): cast, story & where to watch
1960 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 1960, Black Line is a crime film directed by Teruo Ishii, running about 80 minutes.
What it’s about. Freelance reporter “Scoop” Machida is hot on the trail of a prostitution ring called the Black Line, when he is framed for the murder of a young woman. Forced to clear his own name, the handsome journalist sinks deeper into the Black Line’s rotten swamp of drugs, prostitution, and murder and finds unexpected help in Maya, a steamy female gambler familiar with the neon-lit streets, shadowy alleyways, and seedy nightclubs he must navigate. The closest film in the Line series to classic American film noir, Ishii’s Black Line is a pulpy assortment of crime film conventions including the starkly expressionistic black and white cinematography by Jûgyô Yoshida, a jazzy music score by Michiaki Watanabe, and a sleazy screenplay by Ishii and Ichirô Miyagawa.
Who’s in it. Black Line stars Shigeru Amachi as Koji Machida, Utako Mitsuya as Misako, Yōko Mihara as Maya and Toshio Hosokawa as Goro Torii, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Black Line has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Black Line page.
If you liked it. Fans of Black Line tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Dark Knight.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Black Line (1960)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Black Line change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Black Line worth watching?
- Black Line holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy crime. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Black Line?
- Black Line stars Shigeru Amachi, Utako Mitsuya, Yōko Mihara, Toshio Hosokawa and Reiko Seto.
- When was Black Line released?
- Black Line was released in 1960, with a runtime of about 80 minutes.