Samurai I

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Samurai I

Released Nov 18, 1955

1h 32m

Adventure

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100%

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5 Reviews

85%

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500+ Ratings

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).

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... Mifune brings a sad, almost tragic quality to the samurai warrior Miyamoto, whose dedication proscribes him to a lonely life on the road.

Aug 19, 2022

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Hoshi Soffen

Shin Nichibei/New Japanese American News

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.

Jul 17, 2019

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Christopher Machell

CineVue

Mifune, the archetypal on-screen samurai, imbues his [performance] with nuanced internal conflict, self- loathing externalised with flailing violence and misdirected anger.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 17, 2017

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Ingaki does a nice job in blending together battle sequences with plot and character development.

Rated: B-

May 28, 2004

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Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

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.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 10, 2003

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

The greatest 01 hour: and 32 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A samurai story from Japanese folklore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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william d

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Japan's greatest secret weapon: all ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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s r

A good dramatic samurai story. A little odd in the end with the priest controlling things, but it is well made and interesting. Saw on HBO.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

This film was solid.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Hiroshi Inagaki

Director

Toshiro Mifune

Musashi Miyamoto

Kaoru Yachigusa

Otsu

Rentarô Mikuni

Honiden Matahachi

Mariko Okada

Akemi

Kuroemon Onoe

Takuan Osho

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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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