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In my review of the first “Diamond Guys” collection Arrow put out, I noted how, for all the ways those films tried to shake up the Nikkatsu formula, it was still a fairly representative look at what the studio was all about – widescreen, black-and-white, stoic men drawn into violent situations, corruptible women, and jazzy scores. Only the final film in that set – Rambling Guitarist – really managed to strike out and maintain a distinctive tone, but the narrative remained the same. With this second collection, the trajectory is quite the opposite. Rather than gradually move away from the formula, Volume 2 begins with a loose riff in the manner of Rambling Guitarist and gets more cartoonish, absurd, and unpredictable from there. Not that this precisely means the films are any more successful overall. The ratio remains the same – one solid bit of fun, one slog, and one that’s pretty near great.

Haryashu Noguchi's Murder UnincorporatedSTORY66%DIRECTION72%ACTING67%VISUALS74%POSITIVESSlapstick humorPreposterous CharactersGreat restoration NEGATIVESSpecifically addressing fans of slapstick humor2016-07-2970%Overall ScoreReader Rating: (1 Vote)65%

The third part of Arrow’s Diamond Guys Vol 2 is definitely the funniest, as suggested by the guy in the introduction, who threatens to shoot anyone who does not laugh, suggests.

The film revolves around a mysterious individual named Joe of Spades, who threatens the existence of a criminal syndicate, despite the fact that no one knows who he is. The crime syndicate, that comprises of five kingpins, each one in charge of various “fields” (prostitution, drugs, gamble, etc) decide to hire professional assassins to kill Joe of Spades, after one of their members is gunned down, with a card with the ace of spades lying next to his body. In order to choose ten of them, they use the Assassin’s office, which actually auditions professionals.

Take a look @ the June 2016 home video releases from cult movie specialists Arrow Video Us, via Mvd Entertainment Group, including "Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Vol 2 on Blu-ray + DVD, June 14, "Suture" on Blu-ray + DVD, June 21 and "Return Of The Killer Tomatoes" on Blu-ray, June 28:

"Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Vol 2" available June 14, 2016, includes three classic films from directors Buichi Saito ("Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril"), Ko Nakahira ("Crazed Fruit") and Haruyasu Noguchi.

In Saito's "Tokyo Mighty Guy" : "...Akira Kobayashi stars as 'Jiro' , a chef who opens a restaurant in the busy 'Ginza' district. His culinary skills and dashing good looks bring in the women as well as unwanted trouble, while an explosive political scandal builds around his girlfriend's business.

In Nakashira's "Danger Pays", actor Joe Shishido ("Massacre Gun", "Retaliation") stars in a crime caper about counterfeiting: 

"...when one billion yen goes Awol, 'Joe the Ace' (Shishido) spies an opportunity to get rich quick,...