The Cinematheque

“The movie that confirmed Kurosawa’s greatest strength, his innovative handling of genre … It was clearly only a small step from this to the delights of Yojimbo and Sanjuro.”

Tony Rayns, Time Out

Kurosawa was named Best Director at Berlin for this swashbuckling swords-and-samurai farce, shot on the slopes of Mount Fuji and set in 16th-century Japan. Beautifully composed in black-and-white TohoScope—Kurosawa’s first use of a widescreen format, and one of the first in Japanese cinema—the film recounts the hapless adventures of Tahei and Matashichi, two bumbling peasants tricked into accompanying a general, a princess, and a treasure of gold on a dangerous journey through enemy territory. George Lucas has cited The Hidden Fortress and Seven Samurai as chief inspirations for his Star Wars cycle, and Tahei and Matashichi are obvious prototypes for his metallic clowns R2-D2 and C‑3PO. Mifune Toshiro plays the princess’s heroic protector.

In Japanese with English subtitles

“Arthouse classics aren’t usually as welcoming and entertaining as this.”

Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

“An action drama … but one so beautifully made, one so imaginative, so funny, so tender, and so sophisticated that it comes near to being the most lovable film Kurosawa has ever made.”

Donald Richie, The Films of Akira Kurosawa