History Creator / AkiraKurosawa

Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) was a famous Japanese director, mainly known in the West for his samurai films, such as ''Film/SevenSamurai'', ''Film/{{Ran}}'' and ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}''. Other notable films include ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'', ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'', ''Film/DersuUzala'' and ''Film/{{Sanjuro}}''.

Excepting ''Ikiru'', All of his films from 1948's ''Drunken Angel'' to 1965's ''Film/RedBeard'' featured the actor ToshiroMifune. In 1965, the two had a falling out during the production of ''Red Beard'' and did not speak or see each other until a brief, tearful reunion in 1993. There were rumors that they [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have collaborated on Kurosawa's next film]] after his upcoming project ''AfterTheRain'', but they [[AuthorExistenceFailure both died within a year of each other]], with Kurosawa dying before ''After The Rain'' began filming. There was another chance in 1975, as the Soviet producers originally wanted Mifune in the title role of ''Fulm/DersuUzala'', but it was prevented largely by Mifune's schedule. After 1965, there were only a few times where one spoke ill of the other, but otherwise they thought of each other - and their films together - with high regard.

Born on March 23, 1910, Kurosawa is widely considered one of the best and most important directors of the 20th century, Kurosawa made films that were very influential on many American and European film directors. They include Creator/GeorgeLucas (the ''Film/StarWars'' series was heavily influenced by ''Film/TheHiddenFortress''), John Sturges (''Film/TheMagnificentSeven'' is a direct remake of ''Seven Samurai'') and SergioLeone (''Film/AFistfulOfDollars'' is a direct remake of ''Yojimbo''). His "Big Four" films (''Rashomon'', ''Ikiru'', ''Seven Samurai'' and ''Ran'') are often -- if not always -- included in lists of the best films of all time.

The other actor most identified with Kurosawa is Takashi Shimura. Shimura appeared in Kurosawa's first film, 1943's ''Sanshiro Sugata'' and appeared in every one of Kurosawa's films from ''Sanshiro Sugata'' to 1965's ''Red Beard'' except for ''The Lower Depths'' and ''The Hidden Fortress''. Unlike Mifune, however, Kurosawa and Shimura never had a falling out and remained friends until Shimura's death in 1982. Kurosawa wrote a small role for his friend in 1980's ''Film/{{Kagemusha}}'', which was cut from the Western release of the film (but has since been added back on the CriterionCollection DVD).

Excepting ''Ikiru'', All of his films from 1948's ''Drunken Angel'' to 1965's ''Film/RedBeard'' featured the actor ToshiroMifune. In 1965, the two had a falling out during the production of ''Red Beard'' and did not speak or see each other until a brief, tearful reunion in 1993. There were rumors that they [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have collaborated on Kurosawa's next film]] after his upcoming project ''AfterTheRain'', but they [[AuthorExistenceFailure both died within a year of each other]], with Kurosawa dying before ''After The Rain'' began filming. After 1965, there were only a few times where one spoke ill of the other, but otherwise they thought of each other - and their films together - with high regard.

-->''"It is wonderful to create."''
--->-- '''Akira Kurosawa'''

Born on March 23, 1910, Kurosawa is widely considered one of the best and most important directors of the 20th century, Kurosawa made films that were very influential on many American and European film directors. They include GeorgeLucas (the ''StarWars'' series was heavily influenced by ''Film/TheHiddenFortress''), John Sturges (''Film/TheMagnificentSeven'' is a direct remake of ''Seven Samurai'') and SergioLeone (''Film/AFistfulOfDollars'' is a direct remake of ''Yojimbo''). His "Big Four" films (''Rashomon'', ''Ikiru'', ''Seven Samurai'' and ''Ran'') are often -- if not always -- included in lists of the best films of all time.

* ''Dersu Uzala'' (1975)

Excepting ''Ikiru'', All of his films from 1948's ''Drunken Angel'' to 1965's ''RedBeard'' featured the actor ToshiroMifune. In 1965, the two had a falling out during the production of ''Red Beard'' and did not speak or see each other until a brief, tearful reunion in 1993. There were rumors that they [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have collaborated on Kurosawa's next film]] after his upcoming project ''AfterTheRain'', but they [[AuthorExistenceFailure both died within a year of each other]], with Kurosawa dying before ''After The Rain'' began filming. After 1965, there were only a few times where one spoke ill of the other, but otherwise they thought of each other - and their films together - with high regard.

* ''RedBeard''

Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) was a famous Japanese director, mainly known in the West for his samurai films, such as ''Film/SevenSamurai'', ''Film/{{Ran}}'' and ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}''. Other notable films include ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'', ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'', ''DersuUzala'' and ''Film/{{Sanjuro}}''.

* ''DersuUzala''

* ''[[Kagemusha]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Ran]]'' (1985)

* ''Kagemusha'' (1980)
* ''Ran'' (1985)

---> -- '''Akira Kurosawa'''

Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) was a famous Japanese director, mainly known in the West for his samurai films, such as ''Film/SevenSamurai'', ''Film/{{Ran}}'' and ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}''. Other notable films include ''{{Rashomon}}'', ''TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'', ''DersuUzala'' and ''Film/{{Sanjuro}}''.

Born on March 23, 1910, Kurosawa is widely considered one of the best and most important directors of the 20th century, Kurosawa made films that were very influential on many American and European film directors. They include GeorgeLucas (the ''StarWars'' series was heavily influenced by ''TheHiddenFortress''), John Sturges (''Film/TheMagnificentSeven'' is a direct remake of ''Seven Samurai'') and SergioLeone (''Film/AFistfulOfDollars'' is a direct remake of ''Yojimbo''). His "Big Four" films (''Rashomon'', ''Ikiru'', ''Seven Samurai'' and ''Ran'') are often -- if not always -- included in lists of the best films of all time.

* ''{{Rashomon}}''

* ''TheHiddenFortress''

[[WhatCouldHaveBeen One of Kurosawa's disappointments was that he never was able to make a]] {{Godzilla}} film, as Toho turned down his requests to do it, fearing that Kurosawa's epic style would completely demolish the usual budget of the franchise.

Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) was a famous Japanese director, mainly known in the West for his samurai films, such as ''Film/SevenSamurai'', ''Film/{{Ran}}'' and ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}''. Other notable films include ''{{Rashomon}}'', ''TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'', ''DersuUzala'' and ''{{Sanjuro}}''.

* ''{{Sanjuro}}''

The other actor most identified with Kurosawa is Takashi Shimura. Shimura appeared in Kurosawa's first film, 1943's ''Sanshiro Sugata'' and appeared in every one of Kurosawa's films from ''Sanshiro Sugata'' to 1965's ''Red Beard'' except for ''The Lower Depths''. Unlike Mifune, however, Kurosawa and Shimura never had a falling out and remained friends until Shimura's death in 1982. Kurosawa wrote a small role for his friend in 1980's ''Film/{{Kagemusha}}'', which was cut from the Western release of the film (but has since been added back on the CriterionCollection DVD).

Born on March 23, 1910, Kurosawa is widely considered one of the best and most important directors of the 20th century, Kurosawa made films that were very influential on many American and European film directors. They include GeorgeLucas (the ''StarWars'' series was heavily influenced by ''TheHiddenFortress''), John Sturges (''Film/TheMagnificentSeven'' is a direct remake of ''Seven Samurai'') and SergioLeone (''AFistfulOfDollars'' is a direct remake of ''Yojimbo''). His "Big Four" films (''Rashomon'', ''Ikiru'', ''Seven Samurai'' and ''Ran'') are often -- if not always -- included in lists of the best films of all time.

Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) was a famous Japanese director, mainly known in the West for his samurai films, such as ''SevenSamurai'', ''Film/{{Ran}}'' and ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}''. Other notable films include ''{{Rashomon}}'', ''TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''{{Ikiru}}'', ''DersuUzala'' and ''{{Sanjuro}}''.

* ''Uma'' (1941)
** Kurosawa's final production as an assistant director, and he also co-wrote and co-edited the film. Sometimes included in Kurosawa's filmography because he took over most of the production from his mentor and friend Kajiro Yamamoto. Often thought by some to be lost, it actually still exists in a presentable form and was shown in the United States in theaters in the 1980's. Its just awful difficult to find.

* ''The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail'' (1945, not released until 1952)
** Those last three were propaganda movies that Kurosawa and Shimura were forced to write, direct and star in (respectively) during World War II despite the fact that both were pacifists. They didn't get wide release in America until the 2009 CriterionCollection box set ''[=AK100=]'', mostly because after the war, Kurosawa saw them as an OldShame (although they all remained in his filmography unlike ''Those Who Make Tomorrow'').
* ''NoRegretsForOurYouth'' (1946)
* ''Those Who Make Tomorrow'' (1946)
** A co-direction with his mentor Kajiro Yamamoto, Kurosawa was essentially forced to co-direct the film and was so disgusted with it that he left it out of his filmography, which most Western film scholars and Wikipedia also do.

* ''Film/StrayDog'' (1949)

* ''{{Rashomon}}'' (1950)

* ''{{Ikiru}}'' (1952)
* ''SevenSamurai'' (1954)

* ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'' (1957)

* ''TheHiddenFortress'' (1958)

* ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'' (1961)
* ''{{Sanjuro}}'' (1962)

* ''RedBeard'' (1965)

* ''DersuUzala'' (1975)
* ''Film/{{Kagemusha}}'' (1980)
* ''Film/{{Ran}}'' (1985)

* ''Film/AfterTheRain'' (1999)
** This film was written by Kurosawa and he planned on directing it, but his 1998 death put a stop to that. It was directed by his friend Takashi Koizumi, and many Kurosawa fans consider ''After the Rain'' to be as much a Kurosawa film as it is Koizumi's... which may be accurate, considering that Kurosawa's preproduction methods were as meticulous as Hitchcock's or Kubrick's. Another one of his scripts that he planned on eventually directing, ''The Sea is Watching'', was made by another director in 2002.
* ''Gendai oh Noh'' (planned for 2010, but official date TBA)
** a documentary about Noh Theater that Kurosawa started while waiting for ''Ran'' to find funding. ''Gendai'' was promptly abandoned once ''Ran'' found funding, but Kurosawa always intended to finish it. In honor of the centennial of Kurosawa's birth, the film is being completed and will include Kurosawa's hour-plus of original footage

** Kurosawa's final production as an assistant director, and he also co-wrote and co-edited the film. Sometimes included in Kurosawa's filmography because he took over most of the production from his mentor and friend Kajiro Yamamoto. Often thought by some to be [[MissingEpisode lost]], it actually still exists in a presentable form and was shown in the United States in theaters in the 1980's. Its just [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes awful difficult to find]].

** Those last three were propaganda movies that Kurosawa and Shimura were forced to write, direct and star in (respectively) during WorldWarTwo despite the fact that both were pacifists. They didn't get wide release in America until the 2009 CriterionCollection box set ''[=AK100=]'', mostly because after the war, Kurosawa saw them as an OldShame (although they all remained in his filmography unlike ''Those Who Make Tomorrow'').

** A co-direction with his mentor Kajiro Yamamoto, Kurosawa was essentially forced to co-direct the film and was so [[OldShame disgusted with it]] that [[CanonDiscontinuity he left it out of his filmography]], which most Western film scholars and [[TheOtherWiki Wikipedia]] also do.

** This film was written by Kurosawa and he planned on directing it, but his 1998 death [[AuthorExistenceFailure put a stop to that]]. It was directed by his friend Takashi Koizumi, and many Kurosawa fans consider ''After the Rain'' to be as much a Kurosawa film as it is Koizumi's... which may be accurate, considering that Kurosawa's preproduction methods were as meticulous as [[Creator/AlfredHitchcock Hitchcock's]] or [[StanleyKubrick Kubrick's]]. Another one of his scripts that he planned on eventually directing, ''The Sea is Watching'', was made by another director in 2002.
* ''Gendai oh Noh'' (planned for 2010, but official date [[DevelopmentHell TBA]])

Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) was a famous Japanese director, mainly known in the West for his samurai films, such as ''SevenSamurai'', ''Film/{{Ran}}'' and ''{{Yojimbo}}''. Other notable films include ''{{Rashomon}}'', ''TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''{{Ikiru}}'', ''DersuUzala'' and ''{{Sanjuro}}''.

Born on March 23, 1910, Kurosawa is widely considered one of the best and most important directors of the 20th century, Kurosawa made films that were very influential on many American and European film directors. They include GeorgeLucas (the ''StarWars'' series was heavily influenced by ''TheHiddenFortress''), John Sturges (''Film/TheMagnificentSeven'' is a direct remake of ''Seven Samurai'') and SergioLeone (''AFistfulOfDollars'' is a direct remake of ''Yojimbo''). His "Big Four" films (''Rashomon'', ''Ikiru'', ''Seven Samurai'' and ''Ran'') are often - if not always - included in lists of the best films of all time.

* ''{{Yojimbo}}'' (1961)

* ''AfterTheRain'' (1999)

The other actor most identified with Kurosawa is Takashi Shimura. Shimura appeared in Kurosawa's first film, 1943's ''Sanshiro Sugata'' and appeared in every one of Kurosawa's films from ''Sanshiro Sugata'' to 1965's ''Red Beard'' except for ''The Lower Depths''. Unlike Mifune, however, Kurosawa and Shimura never had a falling out and remained friends until Shimura's death in 1982. Kurosawa wrote a small role for his friend in 1980's ''Kagemusha'', which was cut from the Western release of the film (but has since been added back on the CriterionCollection DVD).

* ''{{Kagemusha}}'' (1980)

* ''Kagemusha'' (1980)

* ''{{No Regrets for Our Youth}}'' (1946)

* ''Film/{{Stray Dog}}'' (1949)

** This film was written by Kurosawa and he planned on directing it, but his 1998 death [[AuthorExistenceFailure put a stop to that]]. It was directed by his friend Takashi Koizumi, and many Kurosawa fans consider ''After the Rain'' to be as much a Kurosawa film as it is Koizumi's... which may be accurate, considering that Kurosawa's preproduction methods were as meticulous as [[AlfredHitchcock Hitchcock's]] or [[StanleyKubrick Kubrick's]]. Another one of his scripts that he planned on eventually directing, ''The Sea is Watching'', was made by another director in 2002.

Excepting ''Ikiru'', All of his films from 1948's ''Drunken Angel'' to 1965's ''Red Beard'' featured the actor ToshiroMifune. In 1965, the two had a falling out during the production of ''Red Beard'' and did not speak or see each other until a brief, tearful reunion in 1993. There were rumors that they [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have collaborated on Kurosawa's next film]] after his upcoming project ''AfterTheRain'', but they [[AuthorExistenceFailure both died within a year of each other]], with Kurosawa dying before ''After The Rain'' began filming. After 1965, there were only a few times where one spoke ill of the other, but otherwise they thought of each other - and their films together - with high regard.

-->"It is wonderful to create."