SANJURO (DVD) DVD

Sanjuro
Set in the mid-19th century when the disintegration of a rigid social structure was turning the once wealthy into paupers, or vice-versa, this kinetic drama by acclaimed Akira Kurosawa features the hero Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), one of many samurai whose once traditional positions were fast disappearing. In this tale of false perceptions and truth, of honor and dishonor, Sanjuro is a character who captures and holds attention from the moment he appears on screen. When he arrives in a small city, he discovers that a band of nine men are anxious to overthrow the corrupt ruling elite. Physically strong and agile, mentally sharp and clear-headed, Sanjuro still has an deep commitment to justice and honor underneath his dirty, abrasive, and cynical exterior. The nine men may doubt his nobility, but that is because they are only looking skin deep. While the sword fighting and action scenes are memorable, it is Toshiro Mifune's characterization and Kurosawa's camera eye that enhance the story. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Cast Toshiro Mifune as Sanjuro Tsubaki Yuzo Kayama as Ioti Izaka Tatsuya Nakadai as Hanbei Muroto Keiju Kobayashi as Spy Reiko Dan as Chidori, Mutsuta's daughter Takashi Shimura as Kurofuji

Crew Ryu Kuze - Consultant/advisor Akira Kurosawa - Director Akira Kurosawa - Editor Masaru Sato - Composer (Music Score) Shinobu Muraki - Production Designer Yoshiro Muraki - Production Designer Takao Saito - Cinematographer Fukuzo Koizumi - Cinematographer Ryuzo Kikushima - Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka - Producer Ryuzo Kikushima - Screenwriter Hideo Oguni - Screenwriter Akira Kurosawa - Screenwriter Shugoro Yamamoto - Short Story Author

Sanjuro
With Yojmbo, Akira Kurosawa retreated into lighthearted black comedy and found the perfect protagonist for the journey in Toshiro Mifune's shambling, ill-tempered ronin. Forced to align himself with two equally repulsive forces, he chose to play them against each other, destroying both in the process. You could call the character a cynic, and the film nihilistic, if Mifune didn't, despite intimations of amorality, ultimately do the right thing. Thanks to substantial commercial success, Kurosawa and Mifune re-teamed for a highly enjoyable sequel only a year later. This time out, Mifune encounters a group of nine experienced samurai who, after Mifune saves their lives, follow him around like ducklings. When Mifune joins them in their quest to rescue an honest chamberlain from the false imprisonment of a corrupt superintendent, he teaches his by-the-book charges the secrets of deception and subterfuge. As before, Mifune plays his character always on the verge of exasperation, this time pushed to the limit by the civilizing presence of two women. When one calls him out, remarking that killing has become a bad habit for him, it may play like a joke but, as usual with even Kurosawa's lightest films, there's more at work than may be immediately apparent. An intense finale reinforces this point, and suggests that the humanistic Kurosawa, like his hero in the Yojimbo/Sanjuro series, can only strike a cynical pose for so long. ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: Japanese Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono DD3.0: Dolby Digital w/ 3 discrete audio channels. Includes 2 for the front speakers & 1 mono channel for the surround Additional Features: All-new, restored high-definition digital transfer Optional Dolby Digita 3.0 soundtrack; preserving the original Perspecta simulated stereo effects Audio commentary by film historian and Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince A 35-minute documentary on the making of Sanjuro, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create Theatrical trailer and teaser Stills gallery of behind-the-scenes photos New and improved English subtitle translation Plus: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Sragow and notes from Kurosawa and his cast and crew DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1: Cinemascope MPAA Rating: DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 96 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Sanjuro 1. Torn [4:07] 2. Appearances [8:21] 3. Involved [2:52] 4. Taken [6:02] 5. Rescue [4:20] 6. Safe [5:17] 7. Camellias [7:36] 8. Precaution [:38] 9. Bait [2:06] 10. Easy [2:18] 11. Foolhardy [3:21] 12. Character [10:33] 13. Followed [2:07] 14. Forced [4:53] 15. Bound [1:39] 16. Downstream [7:49] 17. Komyo [6:01] 18. Signal [7:31] 19. Fortunate [3:25] 20. Respect [4:43] 1. Different [4:07] 2. Separation [8:21] 3. Widescreen [2:52] 4. Altruistic [6:02] 5. Opposition [4:20] 6. Delicate [5:17] 7. Setting [7:36] 8. Drums [:38] 9. Circle [2:06] 10. Satirical [2:18] 11. Wish [3:21] 12. Moral [10:33] 13. Prowess [2:07] 14. Variation [4:53] 15. Entrapment [1:39] 16. Uguisu [7:49] 17. Yamamoto [6:01] 18. Deconstruction [7:31] 19. Benevolence [3:25] 20. Extraordinary [4:43] 1. Intro [1:29] 2. Humor [6:25] 3. Nine [2:56] 4. Handmade [4:42] 5. Swordplay [4:56] 6. Octopus [2:28] 7. Duel [11:43]