1954 Japan Black / White 208 minutes

Find hungry samurai

Set in 16th-century Japan, the film starts with bandits scheming to raid a local village following the harvest. The plans are overheard by one of the villagers, who warns everyone else. With no one to defend them, the villagers weep and cry out for their misfortune. Rikichi (Yoshio Tsuchiya) curses his neighbors, and vows to seek out and hire samurai to fight the bandits when they raid.

After unsuccessfully searching,he runs across Kambei (Takashi Shimura), an experienced samurai, who agrees to help them.  He tests and enlists five more samurai.  They are eventually joined by Kikuchiyo (Toshiro Mifune) who is an "impostor" samurai, a foolish and belligerent wanderer who eventually proves his worth.

At first the villagers are frightened of the samurai stereotyping them as rapists and thieves, but the seven eventually win over the trust and respect of the villagers. With the harvest comes jubilation and a false sense of security - Kambei observes this knowingly, and cinches up for the attacks he knows are imminent. And sure enough, within days, strange horses are sighted near the village perimeter.

Facts

Trivia

Oscar nominations:
Best art direction/set decoration Takashi Matsuyama)

Seiji Miyaguchi, who played the taciturn samurai Kyuzo, had not touched a sword at all before this movie. Editing and careful cinematography were both used to give the impression that he was a master.

Filming had to be stopped several times due to a shortage of horses for the final battle sequences.

Cast

Multi Media

Trailer (Mediaplayer 28k