Toshiro Mifune Movies
Born in China to Japanese parents, Toshiro Mifune hoped to become an assistant cameraman after serving in World War II, but was deflected from this goal when he won a talent contest sponsored by Toho Studios. With no prior acting experience, he launched his movie career in 1946 and, two years later, worked for the first time with director Akira Kurosawa in Drunken Angel. In later interviews, Kurosawa said that, although worried about the untrained Mifune's lack of artistic discipline, he "still...did not want to smother that vitality." The director eventually came to realize that Mifune's willingness to do and try anything before the camera was -- for him, at least -- preferable to the introspection and motivation-searching practiced by other Japanese actors.Mifune's raw, unbridled masculinity was ideal for such Kurosawa films as Rashomon (1950) and The Seven Samurai (1954). But as he matured artistically, the actor proved he was no one-trick pony, as demonstrated by his low-key, carefully crafted performance as a tormented business executive in High and Low (1963). The first internationally popular Japanese film star since Sessue Hayakawa, Mifune was held in as high esteem by the film industry as he was by the public, winning Venice Film Festival awards for his performances in Kurosawa's Yojimbo (1960) and Red Beard (1965). Mifune's ability to shift from macho to subtle sensitivity was very similar to the work of Clint Eastwood, who, ironically, played the Mifune-character role in A Fistful of Dollars, the 1964 remake of Yojimbo.
In addition to his work for Kurosawa, Mifune starred in Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy, and was occasionally seen in English-language productions (often dubbed by his favorite voice-over artist, Paul Frees). The actor's non-Japanese efforts included John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix (1966) and Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979); he also played Admiral Yamamoto in Midway (1976) and was teamed with another major male action star, Charles Bronson, in Red Sun (1971). Beginning in 1963, Mifune produced theatrical and TV films through his own company, and, in 1964, made his first (and only) attempt at directing with The Legacy of the 500,000. Mifune died in 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Based on a book by noted novelist Shusaku Endo, this film concerns three lost souls looking for meaning and redemption: Mitsuko Naruse (Kumiko Akiyoshi) is a recent divorcee still wracked with a guilty conscious; Isobe (Hisashi Igawa) is a white-collar worker morning the death of his wife to cancer; and elderly Kiguchi (Yoichi Numata) is still plagued by memories of the War. All three find themselves on the tour bus headed towards Benares, an Indian holy site on the banks of the Ganges River. As the film progresses, the trio are less tourists than pilgrims looking for relief of private demons and spiritual rebirth. Kiguchi tries to understand why he survived in the Burmese jungles while his mates all died. Fulfilling a promise given to his dead wife, Isobe is looking for his wife's reborn soul. Mitsuko looks for Otsu (Eiji Okuda), a Catholic monk and her former lover. This film, which was directed by Kei Kumai, also features performance by screen legend Toshiro Mifune. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- 1989
For those unfamiliar with its deep meaning, the Japanese tea ceremony appears to be a long, incredibly boring, basically uneventful ritual process. In contrast, for many of its practitioners it offers the key to understanding how to live life in a meaningful manner, and is in itself a refreshment for the spirit. The tea master Rikyu was a key figure in the evolution of the ceremony, and his teaching lineage continues to the present day. In 1591, as a result of a difference of opinion with the ruling warlord of Japan of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Hideyoshi Toyotomi (Shinsuke Ashida), the grand master of the tea ceremony, Rikyu (Toshiro Mifune) was forced to commit suicide. This story is told in a series of flashbacks, as Honkakubo, Rikyu's closest disciple, contemplates the death of his master and his associates, and seeks to clarify his understanding of those events. In this film these suicides are interpreted as a clash between spirituality and materialism. In Rikyu, the other 1989 film about the tea master, his political differences with the general are brought forward. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Toshiro Mifune, Kinnosuke Yorozuya, (more)
- 1987
Princess From the Moon (Taketori Monogatari) is based on an ancient Japanese legend. Toshiro Mifune plays a 9th century bamboo cutter who comes across a curious glass capsule, housing a tiny baby girl who holds a crystal ball in her hand. Once released, the infant instantly becomes a five-year-old; the astonished Mifune, whose own child has recently died, decides to adopt the girl. It isn't very long before the child becomes a beautiful adult (Yasuko Sawaguchi), whose blue eyes--a decided rarity in Japan--attract every man within hailing distance. Mifune hopes to hide his daughter away from predatory males, but the girl is constantly courted by eligible bachelors. By and by, the crystal ball begins to emit a strange sound, alerting the girl that she must return to the Moon, whence she came and where she will reign as princess. See Princess From the Moon only if you have an open mind and open heart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Toshiro Mifune, Ayako Wakao, (more)
- 1984
The style of this undistinguished action film follows a 1940s Sam Spade mode that is intriguing, but the story of Joe (Saburo Tokito) -- a petty criminal running from the big guns because he killed a mob boss -- is too clichéd and poorly acted to go any deeper than surface events. After making it to the Philippines, Joe has several misadventures in a world gone bad as he comes across policemen on the dole, wildly unvirtuous women, and thieves who could beat an Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter sprint -- all cardboard stereotypes. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Miwako Fujitani, Kentaro Shimizu, (more)
Based on the epic novel by James Clavell, Shogun originated as an epic five-part television miniseries, filmed on location in Japan. Richard Chamberlain stars as John Blackthorne, a 17th century British sea pilot in charge of a Dutch vessel. Shipwrecked off the coast of Japan, Blackthorne is in danger of being executed by the suspicious, reclusive Japanese hierarchy, but before long he has been accepted into the local culture. Accordingly, he begins to think of himself as Japanese, adopting the nation's customs and, while wearing the robes of a Samurai warrior, helping to defend the land against its enemies. The arrival of Blackthorne unfortunately arouses the interest of European empire-builders, who hope to add Japan to their holdings. Toshiro Mifune costars as Toranaga, a warlord who befriends Blackthorne, and Yoko Shimada appears as Mariko, the interpreter who eventually falls in love with the Englishman. When it first aired in September of 1980, Shogun caused eyebrows to raise with its seemingly reckless disregard of certain TV taboos: for example, one man is beheaded in full view of the audience, while another relieves himself on the body of an enemy. Most of the early dialogue sequence are in Japanese, which resulted in complaints from many monolingual viewers. As a result, the 1983 rebroadcast of Shogun included English narration by Orson Welles. The 125-minute feature version of Shogun, prepared for home video, includes English subtitles--as well as several originally excised scenes of nudity and excessive violence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune, (more)
Japanese screen legend Toshiro Mifune bids farewell to the character he made famous in this tale of death and deception also starring Shintaro Katsu of Zatoichi fame. Hired to carry out a mysterious mission, Yojimbo (Mifune) is told to travel to a remote mountain pass and simply wait for something to happen. Upon arriving at a secluded tea house located at the top of a pass, Yojimbo stumbles into a tangled plot involving a shipment of shogunate gold, a gang of bandits, a shogunate officer, and a disgraced doctor. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Toshiro Mifune, Yujiro Ishihara, (more)
It's December of 1941, and the people of California are in varying states of unease, ranging from a sincere desire to defend the country to virtual blind panic in the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus begin several story threads that comprise the "plot" of this strange period comedy, a sort of satirical disaster movie, from Steven Spielberg. The stories and story threads involve lusty young men, officers (Tim Matheson) and civilians (Bobby Di Cicco) alike, eager to bed the young ladies of their dreams; Wild Bill Kelso, a nutty fighter pilot (John Belushi) following what he thinks is a squadron of Japanese fighters along the California coast; a well-meaning but clumsy tank crew (including John Candy) led by straight-arrow, by-the-book Sgt. Tree (Dan Aykroyd), who doesn't recognize the thug (Treat Williams) in his command; and homeowner Ward Douglas (Ned Beatty), who is eager to do his part for the nation's defense and, despite the misgivings of his wife (Lorraine Gary), doesn't mind his front yard overlooking the ocean being chosen to house a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun. There is also a pair of grotesquely inept airplane spotters (Murray Hamilton, Eddie Deezen) who are doing their job from atop a ferris wheel at a beachfront amusement park; a paranoid army colonel (Warren Oates) positive that the Japanese are infiltrating from the hills; a big dance being held on behalf of servicemen, being attended by a lusty young woman of size (Wendie Jo Sperber) eager to land a man in uniform; and General Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell (Robert Stack), in charge of the defense of the West Coast, who can't seem to get anyone to listen to him when he says to keep calm. And, oh yes, there's also a real Japanese submarine that has gotten all the way to the California coast under the command of its captain (Toshiro Mifune) and a German officer observer (Christopher Lee), only to find itself without a working compass or usable maps. Its captain won't leave until the sub has attacked a militarily significant, honorable target, and the only one that anyone aboard ship knows of in California is Hollywood. By New Year's Eve, all of these characters are going to cross paths, directly or once-removed, in a comedy of errors and destruction strongly reminiscent of the finale to National Lampoon's Animal House (as well as several disaster movies from the same studio), but on a much larger and more impressive scale. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, (more)
- 1978
For a brief period during the 16th century, the Portuguese and Dutch were permitted influence in Japan, with the result that a considerable number of Japanese converted to Christianity. By the late 16th century, a reaction against these outside influences was in full sway. In this story, Lady Ogin is unable to marry her lover because he has become a Christian, and Christians are being persecuted by the Shogun Hideyoshi. This tragic romance is based on a story by Toko Kon. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Takashi Shimura, Ryoko Nakano, (more)
- 1978
- Add Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy to QueueAdd Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy to top of Queue
You've seen him as the bone-cracking anti-hero of the Street Fighter films, now watch Sonny Chiba team with Japanese screen legend Toshiro Mifune and some of the biggest names in Asian cinema in an all-out martial arts melee that's guaranteed to please. Yagyu Jubei (Chiba) is the son of a shogun's instructor and the most powerful swordsman in Japan. When Yagyu's father selects Yagyu to be their heir to his throne, a bitter rivalry is sparked between Yagyu and his powerful brother. It doesn't take long for the brothers to discover that they have been manipulated against one another by a group of imperial nobles who seek to disband the shogunate so that power may be restored to the emperor, and when the secret is discovered, a battle erupts that would strike fear into the heart of even the most fearsome warrior. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sonny Chiba
- 1978
In this gangster film, the Japanese mafia (yakuza) are shown to be "dark suits," or corporation men, not substantially different from their legitimate cousins in the business world. Most of their time is spent going from one interminable business meeting to another, but occasionally they are forced to deal with a situation by committing extremely public murders. The cast list includes the world-renowned actor Toshiro Mifune, and locally famous Kyoko Kishida. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Toshiro Mifune, Kyoko Kishida, (more)
Japan's greatest actor, Toshiro Mifune, and their most powerful action star, Sonny Chiba, team up in this historical action drama. Oishi is an honorable warrior who serves obediently under Lord Asano. After an angry exchange with the villainous Lord Kira, Asano impulsively draws his sword, an act that draws the wrath of the emperor. The emperor gives Asano strict instructions to commit suicide as punishment for his actions; Oishi is devastated by Asano's passing, and he organizes a band of fellow swordsmen to seek revenge against Kira and restore Asano's good name. Swords of Vengeance (aka The Fall of Ako Castle) was directed by Kinji Fukasaku, whose credits include the Yakuza Papers series and the controversial Battle Royale. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1977
In this drama, an international crisis is spawned after a young American man is killed in Tokyo. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The Japanese title of Band of Assassins was Shinsengumi, which pinpointed the assassins in question. The Shinshen was a covert military organization in the employ of the 19th-century Japanese aristocracy. To protect their decadent employers, the Shinshen regularly ventured out to kill political enemies and other undesirables. Toshiro Mifune is among the participants in the film's steady (and seemingly endless) stream of bloodletting. Band of Assassins was one of the bread-and-butter pictures which Mifune made in order to afford to work in more prestigious fare. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In what was billed as "The First East-Meets-West Western," Toshiro Mifune plays Kuroda, a samurai warrior who accompanies a Japanese diplomat to the United States. The diplomat has brought with him a golden, jewel-encrusted sword to present as a token of good will to the president, but as they travel by train through the west, they're ambushed by a pair of outlaws, Gauche (Alain Delon) and Link (Charles Bronson). Gauche and Link steal the sword, but Link leans the hard way about his partner's trustworthiness when Gauche double-crosses him and makes off with the booty. Since both Kuroda and Link have a grudge against Gauche, they warily join forces to track him down and return the sword to its rightful owner. Along the way, they have to deal with cultural conflict, Indian attacks, and encounters with beautiful women (played by Capucine and Ursula Andress). Given its cast and theme, Red Sun was predictably enough a major box-office success in Europe and Japan, but it passed through with little notice in the United States. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson, Ursula Andress, (more)
In Zatoichi vs. Yojimbo, one of many Japanese samurai films starring the blind swordsman Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu), he has to battle Yojimbo (Toshiro Mifune), the title character from Akira Kurosawa's famous film. At the beginning of the film, Zatoichi is planning on retiring, yet his village is besieged by outlaws; eventually he fights, then befriends Yojimbo on his way to securing his village. The movie is a light-hearted parody of samurai films and a comic take on the genre, boasting a wonderfully funny performance from Mifune. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shintaro Katsu, Toshiro Mifune, (more)
In this samurai tale, a brave warrior is told by the newly restored emperor that he must return to his home village and announce that there has been a tax cut. Unfortunately, it is a government ruse designed to ensure political control. When the warrior arrives in his home village, he discovers that it is being ruled by a wicked judge who has been forcing the people to pay incredibly heavy taxes. More trouble ensues leaving the warrior totally confused as to which side he should be one as neither seems to be very good. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
An aging master swordsman becomes the advisor of a powerful 16th-century warlord. Trouble erupts when the proud leader refuses to listen to his wise samurai's advice to work for a united Japan. More problems arise when the fighter and lord fall in love with the same woman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Furin Kazan (AKA Samurai Banners) is based on the bestselling Japanese novel of the same name, written by Yasushi Inove. Toshiro Mifune plays Yamamoto, a physically impaired 17th century Samurai, whose wife and child have been massacred in a war. He signs on to advise a warlord, believing that the fellow has the strength to kill off all of the rival leaders and unify the nation, but he quietly objects to the man's pompous arrogance, sadism and self-centeredness. The assignment succeeds triumphantly as the men, working together, vanquish every competitor across the land. The warlord then approves his request to wipe out a neighboring ruler with whom they've made a pact; Yamamoto kills him, and then stops the man's princess daughter from committing seppuku. He falls in love with the heiress, and she with him, but the warlord wants her as a concubine. Yamamoto agrees to this request out of devotion to his leader, and even convinces the young woman to obey the request. After she conceives an illegitimate child with the warlord, Yamamoto devotes himself and his life to strengthening the power and reach of Japan and spreading the belief that the child is the rightful heir to the throne. He thus ensures that the baby will grow up to become the ruler of a unified nation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Toshiro Mifune, Kinnosuke Nakamura, (more)
- 1969
In this Japanese film, the Shimoda police station gets a new judo instructor who soon finds himself in love with the previous instructor's daughter. This makes another student so jealous that he challenges the new sensei to a duel. The young upstart is quickly put into his place. Later the instructor loses his job for fighting with naval officers. The young man again challenges him, and this time he wins. He also wins the young woman's heart. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
This Japanese action movie is set in Kyoto during the 16th-century. At that time the town was in turmoil over a hefty food tax. The farmers and the wealthy townfolk were battling it out. To assist them, the townspeople hired samurai. That does not stop the determined farmers from defeating them all. One man is able to bring the factions together. A festival celebrating their new solidarity ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1968
The building of a dam provides the framework for this Japanese drama. The trouble is that the dam is to be built along a fault line. An engineer is assigned to dig a tunnel so supplies can be brought in. Realizing the grave danger, the engineer is most reluctant to do so. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Lord Akashi (Toshiro Mifune) is a heroic warrior who comes to the aid of the needy and the oppressed. He is hired to guard a beautiful lady in waiting and the young crowned prince. The group is attacked by marauders who wish to depose of the princess and start a revolt against her father. Akashi never brings out his sword until the very end, content to dispose of his enemies with the least amount of weapons possible. He battles fierce samurai warriors and foreign insurgents who introduce the gun to Japan in their added arsenal of destruction. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Toshiro Mifune, Somegoro Ichikawa, (more)
