The Aramasa family oyabun retires just as police crackdowns on their gambling parlors force the clan into the construction business and an uneasy union with the troublesome Tanuma family. Aramasa lieutenant Ryoji (Ken Takakura) is passed over as successor because he still has one year left on a five-year prison stretch for slicing up a half dozen Tanuma soldiers. This drives a wedge between new boss Eizo (Minoru Ôki) and fellow clan member Sekine (Tomisaburo Wakayama), who is loyal to Ryoji. The situation goes from bad to worse once Ryoji returns home to find his standing in the clan greatly diminished and Tanuma looking to get even. Koji Tsuruta plays an Arimasa acquaintance who, out of obligation, accompanies Ryoji on the final walk to Tanuma's place. Tragic and frustrating for most of its running time, which helps make the inevitable bloodbath so much more cathartic, this ninkyo eiga is greatly buoyed by the presence of the Toei stock players (Takakura, Tsuruta, Wakayama, Junko Fuji) and a gripping, beautifully staged climactic sword battle. The title was UNITY OF GAMBLERS when it opened in Hawaii on June 23, 1970.
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