The Cinematheque

“Satirical samurai action of the highest order.”

David Parkinson, Empire

Kurosawa lovingly spoofs the conventions of the samurai genre in the fast and funny Sanjuro, his made-on-the-quick (but highly regarded) sequel to the hugely popular Yojimbo. Mifune Toshiro reprises his role as the rough-edged ronin Sanjuro, here linking up with nine youthful would-be samurai as they battle corruption in their prefecture and seek to rescue a kidnapped chancellor from the clutches of an evil warlord (menacingly played by Nakadai Tatsuya). Sanjuro is full of dazzling swordplay and delicious chambara satire, and, in its famed duel-to-the-death finale, one shocking geyser of gore. For his charismatic and parodically pitched performance, Mifune was named Best Actor at Kinema Junpo​’s annual awards.

In Japanese with English subtitles

“A superb parody … That grand splaaaaat at the end is a lethal thrust indeed—straight into the heart of conventional jidaigeki.”

Donald Richie, The Films of Akira Kurosawa

“This is a mischievous, sly, good-humored presentation of a crusty old samurai … Startling and refreshing … [A] fetching, beautifully made film.”

Bosley Crowther, The New York Times