The Hidden Fortress
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| The Hidden Fortress | |
 Original Japanese poster |
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| Directed by | Akira Kurosawa |
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| Produced by | Sanezumi Fujimoto Akira Kurosawa |
| Written by | Shinobu Hashimoto Ryuzo Kikushima Akira Kurosawa Hideo Oguni |
| Starring | Toshirō Mifune Misa Uehara Minoru Chiaki Kamatari Fujiwara |
| Music by | Masaru Satō |
| Cinematography | Kazuo Yamasaki |
| Editing by | Akira Kurosawa |
| Distributed by | Toho Company Ltd. |
| Release date(s) | December 28, 1958 (Japan) October 6, 1960 (US) |
| Running time | 139 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人 Kakushi toride no san akunin) is a 1958 film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshirō Mifune as General Rokurota Makabe and Misa Uehara as Princess Yuki. A literal translation of the Japanese title is The Three Villains of the Hidden Fortress.
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[edit] Synopsis
The film begins with two luckless peasants, Tahei and Matashichi (Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujiwara) escaping the aftermath of a battle. While trying to make their way home, they meet and begin to travel with General Rokurota Makabe (Toshirō Mifune). The general is trying to transport the princess of a defeated royal family and what remains of their wealth to safe territory in secret. The peasants mostly impede his mission sometimes trying to run off with the gold. They are later joined by a farmer’s daughter (Toshiko Higuchi), whom they acquire at an inn from a slave-trader, or procurer. Together, the five make an arduous and desperate trek through enemy territory, transporting a treasure of gold that the princess and the general hope to use to rebuild the princess's military to one day retake her land and rebuild her realm.
[edit] Production
This was Kurosawa's first feature filmed in a widescreen format, Tohoscope, which he continued to use for the next decade. Hidden Fortress was originally presented with Perspectasound, which was re-created for the Criterion DVD release.
[edit] Influence
George Lucas has acknowledged the influence of The Hidden Fortress on Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, particularly in the technique of telling the story from the points of view of the film's lowliest characters, C-3PO and R2-D2. [1]
The film was rated 100 percent fresh at Rotten Tomatoes.[2]
[edit] Remake
A loose remake entitled Kakushi Toride no San-Akunin: The Last Princess was directed by Shinji Higuchi and released on May 10, 2008 .
[edit] References
- ^ Star Wars DVD audio commentary
- ^ The Hidden Fortress Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes
[edit] External links
- The Hidden Fortress at the Internet Movie Database
- The Hidden Fortress at Allmovie
- The Hidden Fortress at Rotten Tomatoes
- Criterion Collection essay by Armond White
- The Hidden Fortress (Japanese) at the Japanese Movie Database
- The Last Princess (remake version) Main Site (Japanese)
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