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Release Date 17032025
Edition 4K Ultra HD Restored
Genre World Cinema
Region Code Region A,B,C
Certificate 12
Label BFI
Actors Toshiro Mifune, Eijiro Tono, Takashi Shimura, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keihu Kobayashi, Toshirô Mifune, Akira Kuroasawa, Daisuke Katô, Reiko Dan, Yôko Tsukasa, Takako Irie, Yûzô Kayama, Yûnosuke Itô, Isuzu Yamada, Kamatari Fujiwara, Atsushi Watanabe
Director Akira Kuroasawa, Akira Kurosawa
Number of Discs 2
Duration 209 minutes
Audio Languages Japanese
Subtitle Languages English
Yojimbo
Like Seven Samurai 1954, Yojimbo was Kurosawas tribute to the widescreen action Westerns of John Ford and was itself remade as a Western by Sergio Leone as A Fistful of Dollars 1964. Played by the great Toshiro Mifune, the films enigmatic samurai is a scruffy and itinerant warrior who wanders into a strange town and right into the middle of a war between two clans. Showing his skills with the sword within minutes of his arrival, he soon has the towns rival factions competing for his services.
Kurosawas genius for storytelling combines with thrilling swordplay, a healthy dose of black humour, a soundtrack every bit as atmospheric and amusing as Ennio Morricones, and a towering performance from Mifune, to make Yojimbo an irresistible widescreen action adventure.
Sanjuro
In response to the huge critical and commercial success of Yojimbo, Kurosawa and Mifune reteamed a year later to make Sanjuro, a hilarious comedy of manners altogether more lighthearted than its predecessor.
The story has Sanjuro Mifune running lazy rings around nine naïve and cleancut samurai and two genteel ladies, whilst also cleaning up a spot of corruption in local government. Whilst Kurosawa plays most of it for laughs, expertly parodying the conventions of Japanese period action films, he stages a startling switch of mood with an intense finale which may well be the briefest, and most breathtaking duel in all cinema.
Special Features Limited edition 2disc set, 2 x 4K 2160p UHD Blurays presented in Dolby Vision HDR10 compatibleNewly recorded interview with Jasper Sharp 2024Audio commentary on Yojimbo by film critic Philip KempIntroduction to Sanjuro by filmmaker Alex Cox 2003, 5 minsInterview with filmmaker Alex Cox 2003, 9 minsOriginal trailers for both filmsFIRST PRESSING ONLY Illustrated booklet featuring new and archival essays on both films, original reviews and full film creditsOther extras TBC
