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In the world of Japanese Cinema there has never been a star like Toshiro Mifune. Mifune was one of the finest actors the world has ever seen and is revered by fans all over the world. Starring in undisputed classics such as Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, Mifune was THE Japanese actor for an entire generation, even appearing in many American productions such as Grand Prix, Bushido Blade, and the TV Mini-series Shogun, as well as Steven Spielberg’s 1941. Here, Animego’s “Samurai Cinema” label has put together five examples of why Mifune was such an incredible star, with five roles displaying the acto’s wide range. Those that have exhausted the Criterion Collection’s Mifune titles will want to take a look at this box set to be able to further appreciate what a tremendous actor the man really was.
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Incident at Blood Pass
Directed by
Hiroshi Inagaki
Cast
Toshirô Mifune …. The Yojimbo
Yûjirô Ishihara …. Yataro
Ruriko Asaoka …. Okuni
Shintarô Katsu …. Gentetsu
Kinnosuke Nakamura …. Heima Ibuki
Chûsha Ichikawa …. Unknown Samurai
Few actors can claim to have had a character more important than Mifune’s leading role in Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo. Not only is Yojimbo an amazing movie in its own right, but its an amazing example of how Film as an art form is a watershed, where one great work influences another film maker to create other works of art. As many know, the film was the basis for Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars, which was the starting point for the Spaghetti Western genre, as well as the launching pad for Clint Eastwood’s budding career. Just to think of the lineage that begins with Yojimbo, or perhaps even earlier collaborations with Mifune and Kurosawa, and then ends up all the way with Unforgiven is an amazing prospect.
Mifune’s own character would be featured in an amazing sequel, Sanjuro, which opened up the role even further. Lesser known is the fact that Mifune would actually play this famous role one last time, though in a picture not directed by Akira Kurosawa. In Incident at Blood Pass Mifune reunited with the director that helmed one of the acto’s most acclaimed roles in the Samurai Trilogy, where the actor portrayed perhaps the most famous Samurai of all time, Musashi Miyamoto. Hiroshi Inagaki, a gifted and well renowned film maker in his own right, brings his unique directorial style to this picture, with Mifune giving his famous character a last go round for an appreciative audience.
In the film, Mifune’s nameless ronin is given orders to simply go to a certain location and wait for something to happen. When he gets to his destination he finds an Inn with a wonderful cast of characters, most notably Gentetsu (Shintarô Katsu), a derelict doctor with a devious secret. Shintaro Katsu was arguably was just a big a star at the time, with his Zatoichi series still going very strong on its way to 26 films. Finally, a plot to steal government gold presents itself, giving the Yojimbo his mission at last.
While not Mifune’s finest hour, Incident at Blood Pass is a wonderful chance to see Mifune’s best character at work one last time. The actor is once again stunning to witness as his signature anti-hero lights up the screen with his gruff demeanor and furious swordplay. Shintaro Katsu plays the darkest character of his career as the scheming Gentetsu, but smartly the character is not completely evil. Seeing Mifune and Katsu on screen together is the equivalent of watching Eastwood and Charles Bronson together at the top of their game, but it’s too bad the film doesn’t quite reach the heights that it should have. Still, Incident at Blood Pass is a highly entertaining film with tremendous star power, so not recommending it is totally out of the question.
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Samurai Assassin
Directed by
Kihachi Okamoto
Cast
Toshirô Mifune …. Tsuruchiyo Niiro
Keiju Kobayashi …. Einosuke Kurihara
Michiyo Aratama …. Okiku/Kukuhime
Yûnosuke Itô …. Hoshino Kenmotsu
Eijirô Tono …. Seigoro Kisoya
Tatsuyoshi Ehara …. Ichigoro Hayama
Tadao Nakamaru …. Shigezo Inada
Shiro Otsude …. Kaname Kojima
Yoshio Inaba …. Keijiro Sumita
Koshiro Matsumoto …. Lord Naosuke Ii
On March 3, 1860 an important official of the Tokugawa Shogunate Government of feudal Japan was attacked by a group of assassins. This film tells the story of the days leading up to the event as the conspirators try to find the identity of a traitor in their midst. Tsuruchiyo Niiro (Mifune) is their first suspect, a ronin with a mysterious past, trying to gain favor within the group to be able obtain stature within an important samurai clan. Their other suspect is Einosuke Kurihara (Keiju Kobayashi) a well to do retired samurai who seems to have joined their group in order to help create great change within the government.
What makes Samurai Assassin so entertaining is that the movie manages to cross genres a bit by giving the picture a Noir feel. The movie is almost like a gritty Crime Drama, complete with monotone narration or and moody, black and white cinematography. Director Kihachi Okamoto was a master of showcasing the darker side of samurai life, and this film is no different. Samurai Assassin even rivals the directo’s masterpiece Sword of Doom in this department as the film is filled with conflicted characters and an impending sense of disaster. We’re also treated to an all-star cast in the genre, with veterans such as Takashi Shimura (Seven Samurai), Eijirô Tono (Yojimbo) and Koshiro Matsumoto ( Chushingura) acting for all their worth.
Director Kihachi Okamoto also stages a tremendous battle scene at the end of this picture, with a blizzard giving just the right mood for the hellish showdown, causing a chaotic nature that should satisfy even modern Action film junkies. The sequence is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and perhaps the best of the time period not orchestrated by Akira Kurosawa. Like the best directors, Okamoto is able to find a sense of beauty among the slaughter, as gorgeous cinematography accompanies the slashing and stabbing of dozens of blades.
For all of these qualities, Mifune is still the real reason to watch this film as his Tsuruchiyo Niiro is fascinating to behold. This is a terrific turn for Mifune, as we get to see a character where love is what actually turns him down a path to hell. Even as we think his road may turn toward justice, fate keeps him going until it is too late to circle back. It is because of Mifune that Samurai Assassin becomes one of the best movies of this set.
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Red Lion
Directed by
Kihachi Okamoto
Cast
Toshirô Mifune …. Gonzo
Shima Iwashita …. Tomi
Etsushi Takahashi …. Hanzo
Minori Terada …. Sanji
Yûko Mochizuki …. Oharu
Jitsuko Yoshimura …. Oyoo
Shigeru Kôyama …. Staff Chief Aragaki
Eisei Amamoto …. Dr. Gensai
Tokue Hanazawa …. Komatora
To see Mifune at the complete opposite of the spectrum, Red Lion shows the actor in a completely different light. In Red Lion he portrays Gonzo, the son of a peasant farmer who has become a soldier in the Imperial Army against the Tokugawa Shogun. Gonzo returns to his native village in order to bring news that the tyranny of the local establishment has come to an end and to sing the praises of Imperial Restoration. To help with his message, he even acquires the head dress of a battalion commander, a large red mane. In the town, Gonzo meets resistance from a less than enthusiastic peasant population as well as samurai leaders not eager to see their way of life done away with.
This is much more human Mifune on display in Red Lion. This is actually a tour de force by the actor, whose commanding presence is put aside to present a character who is headstrong, yet not terribly smart, relying heavily on his determination over skill. This is also a much more comedic role from Mifune, reminiscent of some his earlier work with Kurosawa, especially his unforgettable Kikuchiyo in Seven Samurai.
Perhaps running a bit too long, Red Lion is still a vastly entertaining picture with wonderful cinematography and an awesome performance from its star. The film’s comedic elements are also a welcome change in this set after the grim finale of Samurai Assassin. In the end, the film is another example of the Mifune’s excellent range as an actor and is well worth your time.
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Samurai Banners
Directed by
Hiroshi Inagaki
Cast
Toshirô Mifune …. Kansuke Yamamoto
Yoshiko Sakuma …. Princess Yu
Kinnosuke Nakamura …. Shingen Takeda
Yûjirô Ishihara …. Kenshin Uesugi
Katsuo Nakamura …. Nobusato Itagaki
Kankuro Nakamura …. Katsuyori Takeda
Kanemon Nakamura …. Nobukato Itagaki
Masakazu Tamura …. Nobushige Takeda
Mayumi Ozora …. Princess Okoto
At a running time of nearly three hours and a tremendous scope, Samurai Banners is definitely the most epic of the five films in this box set. This time out Mifune portrays Kansuke Yamamoto, a ronin that is so adept at military strategy that when he is presented in front of Lord Takeda Shingen (Kinnosuke Nakamura), he is immediately made a senior military advisor. Sir Yamamoto is ruthless and cunning, making Shingen’s forces unstoppable as they are able to conquer one domain after another. Finally, the film builds to a gigantic battle between the forces of Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, the Lord’s fiercest rival. In a sprawling sequence that features hundreds of extras, the armies clash in a test of strategy and will power.
Samurai Banners is a film that should be a masterpiece, but only ends up just a good movie for several reasons. First and foremost are the film’s battle sequences, which are good for the time period, but not spectacular in the way they should be. The sequences lack the drama and heart compared to that of similar ones in Kurosawa’s Ran or Kagemusha, and don’t feature the sheer visceral thrill of The Last Samurai’s final action set piece. Perhaps if Director Hiroshi Inagaki had borrowed from some of Kurosawa’s techniques in Seven Samurai the scenes would be more satisfying, but action has never really been a strong suit of the film maker.
What Inagaki does do well is fill this picture with wonderful drama and intrigue, as we see Mifune do some great work. Yoshiko Sakuma is also wonderful as Princess Yu; a princess captured by Lord Takeda and made his concubine. The role is filled with depth, as the Princess has to wrestle with wanting to kill the man who conquered her kingdom and murdered her father, but also has to look out for her only child, born due to Shingen’s adoration for the woman. Kinnosuke Nakamura also does admirable work as the Shingen, a man with great ambition, not wanting to seem the puppet of Yamamoto, but enjoying the success the man has brought him.
This film will be a joy to lovers of costume dramas, as all involved do well when this film is not on the battlefield. It’s too bad that often the action in this film is more talked about than it is shown, and when a battle is finally shown, it is less than spectacular other than its size. So while fans of Mifune will want to see this film; fans of action will probably be a bit disappointed.
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Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
Directed by
Kihachi Okamoto
Cast
Shintarô Katsu …. Zatoichi
Toshirô Mifune …. Sassa the Yojimbo
Ayako Wakao …. Umeno
Osamu Takizawa …. Yasuke Eboshiya
Masakane Yonekura …. Boss Masagoro
Shin Kishida …. Kuzuryu
Kanjuro Arashi …. Hyoroku
Toshiyuki Hosokawa …. Sanaemon Goto
Shigeru Kôyama …. Jinzaburo Wakiya
Now it must be noted that Toshiro Mifune is NOT playing his famous character from Akira Kurosawa’s classic film in this picture. The word “Yojimbo” actually means bodyguard, so really the title of the film was a bit misleading as that is the station of Sassa, the character that Mifune plays here. In the end though, it doesn’t even really matter. You still get a cantankerous performance from Toshiro Mifune matched up against Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi, the blind swordsman, a character he played through 26 feature films and 100 episodes on TV. Filled with action, drama, and a lot of humor, this is the crown jewel of this box set and is a must have for any fans of either star of this picture. Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo ranks within the top 5 of the Zatoichi films, which is actually quite an accomplishment considering the quality of this vast series.
The film throws you into the action from the very beginning, as Zatoichi fights for his life in the midst of a terrible rain storm. Surrounded by death and greed, the blind masseuse wishes to be where he can only be surrounded by a gentle breeze and the smell of plum trees. Our hero travels to a far off village from his memory, where he spent gentler times years ago, only to find out the town has been taken over by Yakuza, who have made life miserable for the local peasants. To make matters worse, the gangsters have put a bounty on Zatoichi’s head for a hundred gold pieces, and sent their Yojimbo (Mifune) to collect.
This is an amazing pairing between these two screen giants, as each seems to be having a ton of fun. Mifune is even given a few tender moments, as he yearns for the love of Umeno (Ayako Wakao), a local villager who refuses to give herself over to him unless he does away with the local gang boss and gives up his violent life. Katsu is, as usual, wonderful in his signature role, filling the character with his characteristic impish wit as well as great sympathy for his plight. Many take for granted what a gifted comedian Katsu was, which is one of the main reasons this character has endured for as long as it has.
Finally, those looking for swordplay will find it in spades. With two of Japan’s greatest screen fighters on display, you expect tons of action and action is what you get. Director Kihachi Okamoto sets his confrontations up as if he were directing a Spaghetti Western, with a high an emphasis on atmosphere, and then explosive violence. An amazing exchange has the two men trying to out do each other by running up a higher tally of gangsters they’ve killed. Going one right the other, each devours a small army of yakuza, leaving a bloody trail of bodies. Of course, when the two finally have a showdown, the fight is as epic as it should be.
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo is amazingly fun and high on macho charisma with these two actors filling up the screen with tremendous charm. The film is the best in this box set and one of the great highlights of the Zatoichi series. Those in search of great action and comedy as well as experiencing the star power of two of Japan’s greatest actors will do well by watching this movie.
As for the box set as a whole, this is tremendous collection of Mifune’s films with the actor showing off every ounce of the talent that made him an international star. Criterion may have a monopoly on all of Mifune’s collaborations with Kurosawa, but these films are well worth owning for any fan of the star. This was a true screen performer with a charisma that few could even begin to reach.
Score: 9.5
The Video
Animego has done a pretty decent job with these transfers. Considering how old the films are, they all look really nice, with the possible exception of Samurai Assassin. That particular film looks a bit muddy, but not enough to really be distracting. It should also be noted that Animego also puts some of the best subtitles available on their discs, with different characters getting different colored subtitles to differentiate the dialogue. You even get a definition for some words that are specifically Japanese. The films are presented in Anamorphic Widescreen with aspect ratios of 2.35:1 or 1.85:1
The Audio
The Audio is also good, with each film being presented in pristine Dolby Digital 5.1.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailers, Biographies, Liner Notes, and Filmographies
Trailers – You get loads of trailers on most of these discs, letting us get a look at a wide variety of Samurai films such as two different Lone Wolf and Cub films, Lady Snowblood, several Zatoichi entries, and most of the films in this box set.
Biographies
Liner Notes
Filmographies
Score: 3.5
The Inside Pulse
Why are you still reading this? Get out there and get this set right now! Toshiro Mifune: The Ultimate Collection is a terrific box set full of incredible pictures from one of the greatest actors to ever live. It may be light on extras, but it’s not light on awesome.
