"Actor: Takashi Shimura"

• Yojimbo & Sanjuro (4K UHD) | Blu Ray | (17/03/2025) from £34.97   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Yojimbo Like Seven Samurai (1954), Yojimbo was Kurosawa's tribute to the widescreen action Westerns of John Ford and was itself remade as a Western by Sergio Leone as A Fistful of Dollars (1964). Played by the great Toshiro Mifune, the film's enigmatic samurai is a scruffy and itinerant warrior who wanders into a strange town and right into the middle of a war between two clans. Showing his skills with the sword within minutes of his arrival, he soon has the town's rival factions competing for his services. Kurosawa's genius for storytelling combines with thrilling swordplay, a healthy dose of black humour, a soundtrack every bit as atmospheric and amusing as Ennio Morricone's, and a towering performance from Mifune, to make Yojimbo an irresistible widescreen action adventure.Sanjuro In response to the huge critical and commercial success of Yojimbo, Kurosawa and Mifune re-teamed a year later to make Sanjuro, a hilarious comedy of manners altogether more light-hearted than its predecessor. The story has Sanjuro (Mifune) running lazy rings around nine naïve and clean-cut samurai and two genteel ladies, whilst also cleaning up a spot of corruption in local government. Whilst Kurosawa plays most of it for laughs, expertly parodying the conventions of Japanese period action films, he stages a startling switch of mood with an intense finale which may well be the briefest, and most breathtaking duel in all cinema.Extras¢ Limited edition 2-disc set, 2 x 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-rays presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)¢ Newly recorded interview with Jasper Sharp (2024)¢ Audio commentary on Yojimbo by film critic Philip Kemp¢ Introduction to Sanjuro by filmmaker Alex Cox (2003, 5 mins)¢ Interview with filmmaker Alex Cox (2003, 9 mins)¢ Original trailers for both films¢ **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet featuring new and archival essays on both films, original reviews and full film credits¢ Other extras TBC

• The Hidden Fortress (4K UHD) | Unknown | (18/08/2025) from £24.85   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  New 4K Restoration of Kurosawa's much-loved classic. A story of rival clans, hidden gold and a princess in distress, The Hidden Fortress is a thrilling mix of fairy story and samurai action movie. It was Kurosawa's first film shot in the widescreen process of Tohoscope, and he exploited this to the full in the film's rich variety of landscape locations, including the slopes of Mount Fuji. The Hidden Fortress became Kurosawa's biggest box office hit to date and won several awards, including the Golden Bear at the 1959 Berlin Film Festival. Some twenty years on, the film's influence would have even greater impact on the world's box office, when George Lucas borrowed elements of its plot for the first of his Star Wars series. Extras Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) Newly recorded audio commentary by Japanese-cinema expert Tony Rayns Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create Hidden Fortress (2002) Interview with George Lucas (2001, 8 mins) Original trailer **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with a new essay on the film by Kenta McGrath

• Ikiru (2-Disc Blu-ray) | Blu Ray | (19/08/2024) from £19.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Opening with a shot of an x-ray, showing the main character's stomach, Ikiru tells the tale of a dedicated, downtrodden civil servant who, diagnosed with terminal cancer, learns to change his dull, unfulfilled existence, and suddenly discovers a zest for life. Plunging first into self-pity, then a bout of hedonistic pleasure-seeking on the frenetic streets of post-war Tokyo, Watanabe - the film's hero - finds himself driven to give some meaning to his life, finally finding satisfaction through building a children's playground. Beautifully played by Takashi Shimura (who starred in 21 of Kurosawa's films), Ikiru is an intensely lyrical and moving film, and was one of Kurosawa's own favourites. Opening with a shot of an x-ray, showing the main character's stomach, Ikiru tells the tale of a dedicated, downtrodden civil servant who, diagnosed with terminal cancer, learns to change his dull, unfulfilled existence, and suddenly discovers a zest for life. Plunging first into self-pity, then a bout of hedonistic pleasure-seeking on the frenetic streets of post-war Tokyo, Watanabe - the film's hero - finds himself driven to give some meaning to his life, finally finding satisfaction through building a children's playground. Beautifully played by Takashi Shimura (who starred in 21 of Kurosawa's films), Ikiru is an intensely lyrical and moving film, and was one of Kurosawa's own favourites

• Stray Dog (Blu-ray) | Blu Ray | (27/01/2025) from £16.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  A masterful mix of film noir and police thriller set on the sweltering mean streets of occupied Tokyo.When rookie detective Murakami (Toshiro Mifune) has his pistol stolen from his pocket while on a bus, his frantic attempts to track down the thief lead him to an illegal weapons market in the Tokyo underworld. But the gun has already passed from the pickpocket to a young gangster, and Murakami's gun is identified as the weapon in the shooting of a woman. Murakami, overwhelmed with remorse, turns for help to his older and more experienced senior, Sato (a superb performance by Takashi Shimura). The race is on to find the shooter before he can strike again Extras¢ Presented in High Definition¢ Newly recorded interview with Japanese film expert Jasper Sharp¢ Newly recorded audio commentary by Kenta McGrath¢ Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create Stray Dog (2002, 32 mins)¢ **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with new writing on the film by Barry Forshaw, archive essay by Philip Kemp and original review

• Seven Samurai (4K, Blu-ray extras) | Blu Ray | (03/02/2025) from £24.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Their village raided every year by vicious bandits, a group of peasants hire seven masterless samurai to protect them. Initially met with suspicion, the warriors resolve to gain the trust of the villagers and prepare them to face their enemy. Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is one of the greatest films of all time, and has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg while spawning remakes such as John Sturges' acclaimed The Magnificent Seven. Endlessly copied but never surpassed, Seven Samurai is a truly timeless classic. Extras ¢ 2-disc set including a 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray disc (presented in Dolby Vision, HDR10 compatible) and a Blu-ray disc featuring an array of special features ¢ Audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin ¢ Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create Seven Samurai (2002, 49 mins): part of the Toho Masterworks series featuring interviews with Kurosawa, script supervisor Teruyo Nogami, writer Shinobu Hashimoto, actors Seiji Miyaguchi and Yoshio Tsuchiya, and others ¢ Philip Kemp's selected scenes commentary (1999, 20 mins): the film critic and writer analyses key scenes, recorded for the BFI's 1999 DVD release ¢ The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns on Kurosawa's career and influence ¢ My Life in Cinema (1993, 116 mins): Akira Kurosawa and Nagisa Oshima discuss Kurosawa's life, career and legacy, filmed for the Directors Guild of Japan ¢ Original theatrical trailer ¢ Restoration trailer (2024) ¢ Image gallery

• Kurosawa Samurai Collection | Blu Ray | (01/09/2014) from £36.98   |  Saving you £25.00 (71.45%)   |  RRP £59.99

  The films of Akira Kurosawa one of the cinema's greatest auteurs have had a profound effect on audiences around the world and his acclaimed samurai epics - featuring international star Toshirô Mifune - have inspired filmmakers a diverse as George Lucas and Sergio Leone. This collection marks the first time all these seminal films have been available on High Definition blu-ray in the UK. Seven Samurai (1954)When the residents of a small Japanese village seek protection they hire seven unemployed ronin' (masterless samurai). Paid only in handfuls of rice the samurai remain distant from the villagers knowing that their assignment may prove to be fatal. Unanimously hailed as one of cinema's greatest masterpieces Seven Samurai has inspired countless films including The Magnificent Seven. Japan | 1954 | 190 minutes | Original aspect ratio 1.33:1 Throne of Blood (1957)In this brilliant re-imagining of Shakespeare's Macbeth Toshirô Mifune plays a samurai fated to betray his friend and master in exchange for the prestige of nobility. Kurosawa's bloody tale is a triumph of economic style and the climactic battle scene is full of remarkable and brutal imagery. Japan | 1957 | 104 minutes | Original aspect ratio 1.33:1 The Hidden Fortress (1958)In this classic collaboration between Kurosawa and star Mifune a warrior and a princess try against all odds to return to their homeland with their fortune. Acknowledged by George Lucas as the inspiration for Star Wars The Hidden Fortress combines an epic tale of struggle and honour with modern comic sensibilities to masterful effect. Japan | 1958 | 138 minutes | Original aspect ratio 2.35:1 (16x9 enhanced) Yojimbo (1961)A drifting samurai for hire plays both ends against the middle with two warring factions surviving on his wits and his ability to outrun his own bad luck. Eventually the samurai seeks to eliminate both sides for his own gain and to define his own sense of honour. Yojimbo provided inspiration for A Fistful of Dollars. Japan | 1961 | 106 minutes | Widecreen 4:3 format Sanjuro (1962)After the success of Yojimbo Kurosawa teamed up once again with Mifune one year later to make this comedy of manners. The film which follows a man fighting corruption in local government offers a twist on the classic Samurai tale by gently but perfectly parodying the conventions of the Japanese period action movie tradition. Japan | 1962 | 95 minutes | Original aspect ratio 2.35:1 (16x9 enhanced)

• Seven Samurai - Limited Edition 4K UHD | Blu Ray | (18/11/2024) from £29.05   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  One of the greatest films of all time, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg, and spawned remakes, most notably John Sturges' acclaimed The Magnificent Seven. When 16th-century farmers whose village is repeatedly attacked by merciless bandits ask an elderly, masterless samurai (Takashi Shimura) for help, offering nothing but food in return, he hesitantly agrees and assembles a band of warriors to defend and train the villagers. Boasting terrific performances (with Shimura and Toshiro Mifune as a peasant masquerading as a samurai particularly memorable), superb camerawork, and expertly mounted battle sequences, Seven Samurai is undoubtedly one of the greatest action movies ever made. Newly restored by Toho in 4K, the BFI is delighted to release this all-time classic on UHD for the first time. Available as a limited edition 2-disc set with a book, a set of four postcards and a double-sided poster.Extras- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)- Newly recorded audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create Seven Samurai (2002, 50 mins)- The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa's career and influence- Original trailer- BFI rerelease trailer- Double-sided poster featuring artwork by Matt Needle and the BFI's poster designed for the film's rerelease- A set of four postcards featuring iconic scenes from the film- Perfect-bound book featuring new and archival writing on the film- Updated and improved English subtitles - Other extras TBC

• Seven Samurai (Blu-ray Edition) | Blu Ray | (25/08/2014) from £18.75   |  Saving you £1.24 (6.61%)   |  RRP £19.99

  One of the greatest films ever made – Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg and spawned remakes such as John Sturges’ acclaimed The Magnificent Seven. With their village raided every year by vicious bandits a group of peasants hire seven warriors to protect them. Initially met with suspicion the warriors eventually gain the trust of the peasants and they join forces to face the bandits. This special edition includes alternative presentations of the film a new and exclusive interview with Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns and the film’s original Japanese trailer. Endlessly copied but never surpassed Seven Samurai is a truly timeless classic. Contents: Digitally re-mastered in High Definition Play with or without original intermission Original Japanese theatrical trailer The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013 49 mins): Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa’a career and influence Fully illustrated booklet with essays and credits

• Seven Samurai | DVD | (22/11/1999) from £17.29   |  Saving you £2.70 (15.62%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Unanimously hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of the motion picture, Seven Samurai has inspired countless films modelled after its basic premise. But Akira Kurosawa's classic 1954 action drama has never been surpassed in terms of sheer power of emotion, kinetic energy, and dynamic character development. The story is set in the 1600s, when the residents of a small Japanese village are seeking protection against repeated attacks by a band of marauding thieves. Offering mere handfuls of rice as payment, they hire seven unemployed "ronin" (masterless samurai), including a boastful swordsman (Toshiro Mifune) who is actually a farmer's son desperately seeking glory and acceptance. The samurai get acquainted with but remain distant from the villagers, knowing that their assignment may prove to be fatal. The climactic battle with the raiding thieves remains one of the most breathtaking sequences ever filmed. It's poetry in hyperactive motion and one of Kurosawa's crowning cinematic achievements. This is not a film that can be well served by any synopsis; it must be seen to be appreciated and belongs on the short list of any definitive home-video library. --Jeff Shannon

• Ikiru | DVD | (06/10/2003) from £14.99   |  Saving you £5.00 (33.36%)   |  RRP £19.99

  ""Sometimes I think of my death "" wrote Akira Kurosawa ""I think of ceasing to be... and it is from these thoughts that Ikiru came."" The story of a man diagnosed with stomach cancer Kurosawa's film is a serious contemplation of the nature of existence and the question of how we find meaning in our lives. Opening with a shot of an x-ray showing the main character's stomach 'Ikiru' tells the tale of a dedicated downtrodden civil servant who diagnosed with a fatal cancer learns to c

• Rashomon | DVD | (13/10/2008) from £20.00   |  Saving you £-0.01 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Famously, Rashomon - which won both the Golden Lion in Venice and the Oscar for Foreign-Language Film - introduced Western audiences to Japanese cinema in general and to the thrilling artistry of Akira Kurosawa in particular.

• Godzilla | DVD | (13/02/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The legend begins... Released to coincide with the film's 50th anniversary - the original unexpurgated uncut and subtitles version of the film has rarely seen by British audiences. After American nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean several ships are sunk in mysterious circumstances. The Japanese authorities close in on the neaby Odo island where natives relate tales of a devastating monster whom they call 'Gojira'. An expedition to the island by Professor Kyohei Yamane (Shi

• Seven Samurai - Limited Edition Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (18/11/2024) from £25.65   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  One of the greatest films of all time, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg, and spawned remakes, most notably John Sturges' acclaimed The Magnificent Seven. When 16th-century farmers whose village is repeatedly attacked by merciless bandits ask an elderly, masterless samurai (Takashi Shimura) for help, offering nothing but food in return, he hesitantly agrees and assembles a band of warriors to defend and train the villagers. Boasting terrific performances (with Shimura and Toshiro Mifune as a peasant masquerading as a samurai particularly memorable), superb camerawork, and expertly mounted battle sequences, Seven Samurai is undoubtedly one of the greatest action movies ever made. Newly restored in 4K by Toho, the BFI is delighted to be able to rerelease this all-time classic on Blu-ray in a limited edition 2-disc set with a book, a set of four postcards and a double-sided poster.Extras- Newly restored in 4K by Toho and presented in High Definition- Newly recorded audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create Seven Samurai (2002, 50 mins)- The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa's career and influence- Original trailer- BFI rerelease trailer- Double-sided poster featuring artwork by Matt Needle and the BFI's poster designed for the film's rerelease- A set of four postcards featuring iconic scenes from the film- Perfect-bound book featuring new and archival writing on the film- Updated and improved English subtitles - Other extras TBC

• Rashomon (Blu-ray) | Blu Ray | (17/04/2019) from £8.99   |  Saving you £11.00 (122.36%)   |  RRP £19.99

  This 1950 film by Akira Kurosawa is more than a classic: it's a cinematic archetype that has served as a template for many a film since. (Rashomon's most direct influence was on a Western remake, The Outrage, starring Paul Newman and directed by Martin Ritt.) In essence, the facts surrounding a rape and murder are told from four different and contradictory points of view, suggesting the nature of truth is something less than absolute. The cast, headed by Kurosawa's favourite actor, Toshiro Mifune, is superb. --Tom Keogh

• The Bride from Hades | Blu Ray | (23/06/2025) from £14.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Noble samurai Shinzaburo (Kojiro Hongo, Gamera) is visited one night by the beautiful courtesan Otsuyu (Miyoko Akaza, Lady Snowblood). She pleads with him to marry her and save her from life in a brothel. Instantly captivated by her beauty, Shinzaburo agrees and a cautious love affair develops, but in his infatuation, he fails to realise that Otsuyu is a ghost. His friends band together to drive off the spirit, but can the love-stricken Shinzaburo resist the haunting lure of this enchantress? Working from a script by Ugetsu's Yoshikata Yoda, original Shinobi director Satsuo Yamamoto brings this classic Japanese ghost tale to the screen with breathtaking stylistic beauty. His visualisation of the alluring female ghost prefigures A Chinese Ghost Story and greatly inspired the J-horror movement. SPECIAL FEATURES New 4K restoration Uncompressed mono PCM audio Appreciation by filmmaker and screenwriter Hiroshi Takahashi Audio commentary by critic and author Jasper Sharp Trailer Newly improved English subtitle translation

• Godzilla | Blu Ray | (11/11/2024) from £29.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Godzilla (a.k.a. Gojira) is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It's also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at a time when the country was reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing in the Pacific. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population's fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than thirty sequels. A thrilling, tactile spectacle that continues to be a cult phenomenon, the original 1954 Japanese version is presented here, along with Godzilla, King of the Monsters, the 1956 Americanized version.Film Info¢ Japan¢ 1954¢ 96 minutes¢ Black & White¢ 1.37:1¢ Japanese¢ Spine #5944K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES¢ New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack¢ [4k ONLY] One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features¢ High-definition digital restoration of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Terry Morse's 1956 reworking of the original, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack¢ Audio commentary for both movies by film historian David Kalat¢ Interviews with actors Akira Takarada and Haruo Nakajima and special effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai¢ Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube¢ Featurette detailing Godzilla's photographic effects, introduced by special effects director Koichi Kawakita and special effects photographer Motoyoshi Tomioka¢ Interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato¢ The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo Fukuryu Maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla¢ Trailers¢ PLUS: An essay by critic J. Hoberman¢ Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz

• Akira Kurosawa - The Samurai Collection | DVD | (07/06/2010) from £34.43   |  Saving you £5.56 (16.15%)   |  RRP £39.99

  Akira Kurosawa: The Samurai Collection (5 Discs)

• Godzilla (Criterion Collection) UK Only | Blu Ray | (11/11/2024) from £22.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Godzilla (a.k.a. Gojira) is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It's also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at a time when the country was reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing in the Pacific. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population's fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than thirty sequels. A thrilling, tactile spectacle that continues to be a cult phenomenon, the original 1954 Japanese version is presented here, along with Godzilla, King of the Monsters, the 1956 Americanized version.Film Info¢ Japan¢ 1954¢ 96 minutes¢ Black & White¢ 1.37:1¢ Japanese¢ Spine #594¢ High-definition digital restoration of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Terry Morse's 1956 reworking of the original, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack¢ Audio commentary for both movies by film historian David Kalat¢ Interviews with actors Akira Takarada and Haruo Nakajima and special effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai¢ Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube¢ Featurette detailing Godzilla's photographic effects, introduced by special effects director Koichi Kawakita and special effects photographer Motoyoshi Tomioka¢ Interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato¢ The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo Fukuryu Maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla¢ Trailers¢ PLUS: An essay by critic J. Hoberman¢ Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz

• The Hidden Fortress (Blu-ray) | Unknown | (18/08/2025) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  New restoration of Kurosawa's much-loved classic. A story of rival clans, hidden gold and a princess in distress, The Hidden Fortress is a thrilling mix of fairy story and samurai action movie. It was Kurosawa's first film shot in the widescreen process of Tohoscope, and he exploited this to the full in the film's rich variety of landscape locations, including the slopes of Mount Fuji. The Hidden Fortress became Kurosawa's biggest box office hit to date and won several awards, including the Golden Bear at the 1959 Berlin Film Festival. Some twenty years on, the film's influence would have even greater impact on the world's box office, when George Lucas borrowed elements of its plot for the first of his Star Wars series. Extras Newly restored in 4K and presented in High Definition Newly recorded audio commentary by Japanese-cinema expert Tony Rayns Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create Hidden Fortress (2002) Interview with George Lucas (2001, 8 mins) Original trailer **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with a new essay on the film by Kenta McGrath

• Seven Samurai (60th Anniversary Edition) (DVD) | DVD | (21/04/2014) from £18.75   |  Saving you £1.24 (6.61%)   |  RRP £19.99

  One of the greatest films ever made Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg, and spawned remakes, such as John Sturges' acclaimed The Magnificent Seven. With their village raided every year by vicious bandits, a group of peasants hire seven warriors to protect them. Initially met with suspicion, the warriors eventually gain the trust of the peasants and they join forces to face the bandits. Newly re-mastered on DVD, this 60th anniversary special edition includes alternative presentations of the film, a new and exclusive interview with Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns, and the film's original Japanese trailer. Endlessly copied but never surpassed, Seven Samurai is a truly timeless classic Newly re-mastered High Definition transfer Play with or without original intermission Original Japanese theatrical trailer The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 48 mins): Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa'a career and influence Fully illustrated booklet with essays and credits