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Samurai I

Play trailer Poster for Samurai I 1955 1h 32m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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Best friends Takezo (Toshirô Mifune) and Matahachi (Rentarô Mikuni) joined the army expecting glory. But after their side is defeated, they are labeled as traitors and become fugitives from the law. Surprisingly though, when Takezo is eventually captured, he isn't executed. Instead a sympathetic Buddhist priest takes him under his wing and offers to train him in the ways of the samurai, even if he'd rather escape and run off into the country with the beautiful Otsu (Kaoru Yachigusa).
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Samurai I

Critics Reviews

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Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/19/2022
... Mifune brings a sad, almost tragic quality to the samurai warrior Miyamoto, whose dedication proscribes him to a lonely life on the road. Go to Full Review
Hoshi Soffen Shin Nichibei/New Japanese American News 07/17/2019
Whether he is weeping, fighting, making love, [Toshiro Mifune] is consistent with the character of Musashi. As often as he is on the screen, you'll never have enough of him. Go to Full Review
Christopher Machell CineVue 01/17/2017
5/5
Mifune, the archetypal on-screen samurai, imbues his [performance] with nuanced internal conflict, self- loathing externalised with flailing violence and misdirected anger. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 05/28/2004
B-
Ingaki does a nice job in blending together battle sequences with plot and character development. Go to Full Review
Gabe Leibowitz Film and Felt 09/10/2003
4/4
Aggressively plunging into a rich story and never relenting, Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto provides the same snappy pacing and riveting battle sequences that made Akira Kurosawa legendary. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Virgo V @vision Aug 6 Musashi Miyamoto (Miyamoto Musashi) is a 1954 Japanese film directed and co-written by Hiroshi Inagaki. The film is the first film of Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy of historical adventures. The film is adapted from Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi, originally released as a serial in the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, between 1935 and 1939. The novel is loosely based on the life of the famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. The film was followed by Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955) and Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956). It stars Toshiro Mifune, Rentarō Mikuni and Kuroemon Onoe. It was distributed and produced by Toho Company, Limited. Ikuma Dan was responsible for the music. Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto was the second Toho film production in color and the first in the Eastman Color process. It won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1955, further cementing its critical and commercial acclaim. Vision wrote: “the film establishes itself in the year 1600 with a victory in the Battle of Sekigahara. The samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi is believed to have fought in this battle. Before his capture, he was striking down men so fast as if they were blades of grass. Toshiro Mifune as Miyamoto was probably one of his best roles ever. Toshiro Mifune showcases his qualities. Outstanding! Four fries for the direction, the performances, the production and the screenplay. Hiroshi Inagaki comes out on top. I would highly recommend this film as it solidifies its status as one of the greatest Japanese films of all time. Just my onion of an opinion.” See more Johnathon W @Hoppynsc May 28 Rather incomplete film that, while features a great lead performance by Toshiro Mifune, doesn't feel like a full story. Mifune is superb as Musashi, especially in portraying his younger, more violent side before he learned to become a true samurai. Unfortunately, the filmmakers don't make it a full film, and it's reliant on the next two for a full story. A solid watch as part of the trilogy but not on its on. See more 11/14/2022 I have seen Toshiro Mifune in many amazing Kurosawa movies, so expectations were already very high when I started watching the first Samurai movie. The trilogy has captured the evolution of a Samurai and a human being brilliantly. Adored this trilogy. See more 06/20/2022 The greatest 01 hour: and 32 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A samurai story from Japanese folklore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more william d @acsdoug 06/11/2022 Mifune made this film the same year he made The Seven Samurai. That film is definitely better, but this one is worth a watch if you like the genre. See more 04/11/2022 Japan's greatest secret weapon: all ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL. See more Read all reviews
Samurai I

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Movie Info

Synopsis Best friends Takezo (Toshirô Mifune) and Matahachi (Rentarô Mikuni) joined the army expecting glory. But after their side is defeated, they are labeled as traitors and become fugitives from the law. Surprisingly though, when Takezo is eventually captured, he isn't executed. Instead a sympathetic Buddhist priest takes him under his wing and offers to train him in the ways of the samurai, even if he'd rather escape and run off into the country with the beautiful Otsu (Kaoru Yachigusa).
Director
Hiroshi Inagaki
Distributor
Fine Arts Film Inc.
Production Co
Toho Company Ltd.
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 8, 2017
Runtime
1h 32m
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