Seven Samurai (1954)

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Director: Akira Kurosawa

Writers: Akira Kurosawa & Shinobu Hashimoto & Hideo Oguni

Stars: Takashi Shimura, Toshiro Mifune, Keiko Tsushima, Yukiko Shimazaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Daisuke Kato, Isao Kimura, Minoru Chiaki



Akira Kurosawa's ground-breaking film features a band of masterless samurai who accept an assignment to protect a farming village from bandits in return for food.

 


Although they are all down on their luck in poverty-ravaged Japan, they retain their dignity and sense of ethics and honor.

 


In addition to being an excellent action picture, it is also a fine character study that contrasts the various ways that people react to extreme hardships such as crushing poverty.

 


Two actors, both giants of Japanese cinema, stand out in the fine cast.

 


Takashi Shimura is Kanbei, the wise, inspirational leader who recruits the others.

 


Toshiro Mifune is Kikuchiyo, a farmer's son whose apparent disgust with the villagers masks his sense of self-loathing.

 


Highly recommended.










































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