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      The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail

      1945 1h 0m Drama Adventure List
      88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 58% Audience Score 250+ Ratings A routed Japanese general, Yoshitsune (Hanshiro Iwai), and his group of loyal retainers are forced to flee from Yoshitsune's own traitorous brother. En route to a safe zone, Yoshitsune and his bodyguards must pass through a heavily garrisoned mountain stronghold held by his brother's forces. Hopelessly outnumbered, Yoshitsune and his guards, led by samurai Benkei (Denjirô Ôkôchi), decided that the safest way to pass through the checkpoint unharmed is to dress themselves as monks. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Howard Thompson New York Times Even for its brevity, the import remains a long, tedious conversation piece, interspersed with reedy songs and a few interesting, mobile faces. Most of the time the members of the all-male cast sit around on their haunches. Rated: 2/5 May 10, 2005 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Akira Kurosawa's slimmest feature, running only an hour, is also one of the best of his early period. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Dwight MacDonald Esquire Magazine It has one great actor (Okochi, who plays Benkei) and half a dozen very good ones, and it tells its simple but exciting story with classical economy. Jul 15, 2019 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Vigorous conversation about values, peace and war is rich, delightful drama, one of Kurosawa's best and most joyous. Dec 3, 2016 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Captivating samurai vaudeville Mar 31, 2010 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A minor and obscure work by the acclaimed filmmaker. Rated: B- Mar 23, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      william d Although there are some good performances there is not much of a movie here. The story is more suited to TV than the big screen. It can be interesting as a stepping stone taken by Kurosawa on his way to later, better films. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Christopher B A tense and well acted, with some hilarious facial expressions to boot, early piece by the legendary Akira Kurosawa. While it may lack action or traditional sword fighting, its poignant and wonderfully done for such a short film. Recommended! This is a good place to start in Kurosawa's filmography so you can gain an understanding for what will become his trademark style. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/01/22 Full Review Audience Member What is happening? Nobody knows. But that's what's fun about it. There is little action. The suspense is subtle, but powerful. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This film was solid. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member My lacking understanding of the latter act's use of dance is clearly a cultural divide. Twice we see the foolish porter Benkei do a silly dance - once for the barrier-people bringing gifts, the second just for us under a magnificent night sky whose cloud pattern Kurosawa clearly waited patiently to capture. I wish I understood to grasp a fuller understanding of the meaning. Nevertheless, Kurosawa succeeds at drawing us into this illicit journey through a forest that will bring these fake monks to a masquerade challenge, which could result in life or death. This is revealed in a wonderfully dynamic, comedic performance by Denjiro Okochi as Benkei, who deduces that this story he heard about seven samurai on a mission disguised as Buddhist monks is, much to his dismay, them! What's worse, the word is out, their plan is already in jeopardy. The samurai aren't as flustered as they should be - is this only to provide a contrasting backdrop for Okochi's over-the-top situational fear? It works, the cuts between Okochi's trepidation and the samurai stillness are some of the best in the whole piece. But the film's climactic suspenseful showdown between Togashi and the barrier-leader is where it's all at. Kurosawa is patient, he trusts the space between silence and sound. Togashi takes this role seriously, he really builds himself up and forces everyone to see him as the leading priest he pretends to be. Whenever we move between a long silent pause, then hearing his voice kick into full priestly gear, knowing the schtick he's up to makes for a deep laughter. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member This final war-period film of Kurosawa's wasn't released until 1952 because censors felt it was unpatriotic. A new character, the comedic and cowardly porter, had been introduced into a somber historical tale based on a true story. Yet it's this same porter that makes the film interesting and allows the audience to understand several moments just by how the others interact with him. This porter was played by Kenichi Enomoto, a well known comic actor from Japan's silent and early talkie era that Kurosawa had worked with before his directorial debut. It should be noted that the whole cast and crew made this film on a single stage - often without standard lights, sound, or prop equipment. A must see for Kurosawa fans. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Photos

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      The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail

      The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945) The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945) The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945) The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A routed Japanese general, Yoshitsune (Hanshiro Iwai), and his group of loyal retainers are forced to flee from Yoshitsune's own traitorous brother. En route to a safe zone, Yoshitsune and his bodyguards must pass through a heavily garrisoned mountain stronghold held by his brother's forces. Hopelessly outnumbered, Yoshitsune and his guards, led by samurai Benkei (Denjirô Ôkôchi), decided that the safest way to pass through the checkpoint unharmed is to dress themselves as monks.
      Director
      Akira Kurosawa
      Screenwriter
      Akira Kurosawa
      Genre
      Drama, Adventure
      Original Language
      Japanese
      Release Date (DVD)
      Aug 3, 2010
      Runtime
      1h 0m