History Creator / AkiraKurosawa

* ''Film/{{The Lower Depths|1957}}'' (1957) - An adaptation of Creator/MaximGorky 's [[Theatre/TheLowerDepths social satire]], transported to Edo-era Japan.

* MagnumOpusDissonance: Kurosawa stated after its release, he considered ''Film/{{Ran}}'' to be his masterpiece. While the film is well-regarded, many critics and fans would consider ''Film/SevenSamurai'', ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'', ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', ''High and Low'' and ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'' as his greatest work (mainly the former).

Excepting ''Ikiru,'' all of Kurosawa's films from 1948's ''Drunken Angel'' to 1965's ''Red Beard'' featured the actor Creator/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 ''Film/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 ''Film/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.

* AuthorExistenceFailure: Averted as he had completed the screenplays for ''Film/AfterTheRain'' and ''The Sea is Watching'' prior to his death.

* ''Oni'' (????) - A film that would have focused on a blonde-haired WesternSamurai simply known as Oni. The screenplay would later serve as the basis for Creator/TeamNinja's ''VideoGame/{{Nioh}}'' though not without extensive changes.

** In his autobiography, he notes that he had to fight with the Japanese censors over his early films due to them considering them "too Western". Eventually he tried to make something more Japanese... at which point WWII ended and the film was promptly banned by the new American censors for being too traditionally Japanese.

He was a notorious PrimaDonnaDirector, to the point where he earned the nickname "Tenno" or "The Emperor". Kurosawa's personality and demeanor made him unpopular in the Japanese film industry,[[note]]''Ran'' did not get a nomination for best foreign language film because the Japanese film board refused to submit it, out of spite[[/note]] and his films were often divisive within Japan. Japanese critics often slammed Kurosawa for being "too Western" and they had a point. Kurosawa adapted Western stories from Shakespeare, Gorky, and Dostoevsky, ''Yojimbo'' was an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett novel ''Literature/TheGlassKey'', and ''High and Low'' was an adaptation of a novel by Creator/EdMcBain. This went in the other direction as well, as ''Seven Samurai'' easily translated to Hollywood as ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven''.

* ''Uma'' (1941) - Assistant director, editor, co-screenwriter. Kurosawa is sometimes listed as an uncredited co-director because he took over the later stages of production from director Kajiro Yamamoto. Once thought to be lost, still hard to find.

[[index]]

* ''Film/VendettaForASamurai'' (1952) - Written by Kurosawa, and directed by Kazuo Mori, this is an account of the true events of the duel at Kagiya Corner.

* ''Film/AfterTheRain'' (1999) - Kurosawa screenplay, directed by his friend Takashi Koizumi after Kurosawa's death.

* ''The Sea Is Watching'' (2002) - Kurosawa screenplay, directed by Kei Kumai after Kurosawa's death.
* ''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.

[[caption-width-right:350: [[Music/BarenakedLadies Like Kurosawa, I make mad films / K, I don't make films / But if I did, they'd have a samurai.]]]]

Despite his long and revered career, Kurosawa only won one competitive Oscar in his career, when ''Film/DersuUzala'' was awarded the UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestForeignLanguageFilm in 1975. He also received an honorary Oscar in 1952 for ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'' before a formal foreign language Oscar had been established. In 1986, Kurosawa earned his only nomination for the UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestDirecting for ''Ran''. He wound up on the ballot after Japan controversially snubbed ''Ran'' as their submission for the foreign language category despite it being one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year, and other film directors petitioned the Academy to consider Kurosawa over their own work. Kurosawa lost that Oscar to Sydney Pollack, although he was invited to present Best Picture with Billy Wilder and John Huston. In 1990, Kurosawa received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement at the 1990 [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward ceremony]]. Said award was presented to him by Creator/StevenSpielberg and Creator/GeorgeLucas and he accepted it in person. Kurosawa was the first Japanese, and first Asian, film-maker to receive the award.

In 1990, Kurosawa received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement at the 1990 [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward ceremony]]. Said award was presented to him by Creator/StevenSpielberg and Creator/GeorgeLucas and he accepted it in person. Kurosawa was the first Japanese, and first Asian, film-maker to receive the award. He passed away on September 6, 1998 at the age of 88.

He was a notorious PrimaDonnaDirector, to the point where he earned the nickname "Tenno" or "The Emperor". Kurosawa's personality and demeanor made him unpopular in the Japanese film industry,[[note]]''Ran'' did not get a nomination for best foreign language film because the Japanese film board refused to submit it, out of spite[[/note]] and his films were often divisive within Japan. Japanese critics often slammed Kurosawa for being "too Western" and they had a point. Kurosawa adapted Western stories from Shakespeare, Gorky, and Dostoevsky, ''Yojimbo'' was an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett novel ''Literature/TheGlassKey'', and ''High and Low'' was an adaptation of a novel by Creator/EdMcBain. Kurosawa also differed from earlier Japanese film-makers (like Creator/KenjiMizoguchi and Creator/YasujiroOzu) for being [[RatedMForManly quite macho]] and having very few prominent female roles compared to his predecessors and the general women-centric nature of Japanese cinema. Kurosawa also tended to write his own dialogues as he became more successful and rely less on screenwriters and Japanese critics often noted sardonically that his films improved in subtitles noting that to a Japanese audience, his movies often came off as sentimental, hokey, and as per Creator/YukioMishima having the maturity of a ten-year old.

* DrivenToSuicide: He went into such a [[DespairEventHorizon depression]] after ''Dodes'ka-den'' failed at the box office that he tried to take his own life several times. It didn't help when one evening a drunken Kôji Mitsui called him a coward for not making another film; it's rumored that in his final of his life moments Mitsui blamed himself for the suicide attempt.

Born on March 23, 1910, Kurosawa is widely considered one of the best and most important directors of the 20th century. His 1950 film ''Rashomon'' was a world-wide smash, getting far more attention overseas than any prior Japanese film[[note]]Teinosuke Kinugasa's ''Film/APageOfMadness'' actually did circulate in the silent era in Europe, and Mikio Naruse's ''Wife! Be Like a Rose!'' also played in America[[/note]]. It became the first non-American and non-European film to achieve international success and in film history, and it is considered a watershed moment in the birth of what is considered world-cinema. Japan had a film industry that was already quite fecund and productive by TheFifties boasting many great films and film-makers from the silent to the sound era, but [[SmallReferencePools within the wider culture]], Kurosawa is still ''the'' Japanese film-maker.

Born on March 23, 1910, Kurosawa is widely considered one of the best and most important directors of the 20th century. ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'' became the first non-American and non-European film to become an international success and in film history, it is considered a watershed moment in the birth of what is considered world-cinema. Japan had a film industry that was already quite fecund and productive by TheFifties boasting many great films and film-makers from the silent to the sound era, and an active film culture. ''Rashomon'' wasn't the first Japanese film screened in the West (Teinosuke Kinugasa's ''A Page of Madness'' actually did circulate in the silent era in Europe, and Mikio Naruse's ''Wife! Be Like a Rose!'' also played in America) but it was the first to be critically acclaimed and popular, and within the wider culture, Kurosawa is still ''the'' Japanese film-maker.

He made films that were very influential on many American and European film directors. They include Creator/GeorgeLucas (the ''Franchise/StarWars'' series was heavily influenced by ''Film/TheHiddenFortress''), John Sturges (''[[Film/TheMagnificentSeven1960 The Magnificent Seven]]'' is a direct remake of ''Seven Samurai'') and Creator/SergioLeone (''Film/AFistfulOfDollars'' is a direct remake of ''Yojimbo''). His "Big Four" films (''Rashomon,'' ''Ikiru,'' ''Seven Samurai,'' and ''Ran'') are routinely included in lists of the best films of all time. Excepting ''Ikiru,'' all of his films from 1948's ''Drunken Angel'' to 1965's ''Red Beard'' featured the actor Creator/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 ''Film/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 ''Film/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.

He was a notorious PrimaDonnaDirector, to the point where he earned the nickname "Tenno" or "The Emperor". Kurosawa's personality and demeanor made him unpopular in the Japanese film industry,[[note]]''Film/{{Ran}}'' did not get a nomination for best foreign language film because the Japanese film board refused to submit it, out of spite[[/note]] and his films were often divisive within Japan. Japanese critics often slammed Kurosawa for being "too Western" and they had a point. Kurosawa adapted Western stories from Shakespeare, Gorky, and Dostoevsky, ''Yojimbo'' was an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett novel ''Literature/TheGlassKey'', and ''High and Low'' was an adaptation of a novel by Creator/EdMcBain. Kurosawa also differed from earlier Japanese film-makers (like Creator/KenjiMizoguchi and Creator/YasujiroOzu) for being [[RatedMForManly quite macho]] and having very few prominent female roles compared to his predecessors and the general women-centric nature of Japanese cinema. Kurosawa also tended to write his own dialogues as he became more successful and rely less on screenwriters and Japanese critics often noted sardonically that his films improved in subtitles noting that to a Japanese audience, his movies often came off as sentimental, hokey, and as per Creator/YukioMishima having the maturity of a ten-year old.

[[/index]]

[[index]]

* ''Film/AfterTheRain'' (1999) - Kurosawa screenplay, directed by his friend Takashi Koizumi after Kurosawa's death.

* MagnumOpusDissonance: Kurosawa stated after its release, he considered ''Film/{{Ran}}'' to be his masterpiece. While the film is well-regarded, many critics and fans would consider ''Film/SevenSamurai'', ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'', ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/HighAndLow'' and ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'' as his greatest work (mainly the former).

* ''Film/HighAndLow'' (1963)

* ''Film/{{Dreams}}'' (1990) (aka ''Akira Kurosawa's Dreams'')

* ''Film/AkiraKurosawasDreams'' (1990)

* ''Film/{{The Lower Depths|1957}}'' - An adaptation of Creator/MaximGorky 's [[Theatre/TheLowerDepths social satire]], transported to Edo-era Japan.

** He was going to co-direct ''Film/ToraToraTora'' with Creator/DavidLean. Lean pulled out early in production. Kurosawa continued on for a while, until he was told that the Japanese section had been shortened to 90 minutes (the script Kurosawa had written was four hours long). Despite this, Kurosawa ''did'' begin production, but was replaced by Kinji Fukasaku and Toshio Masuda after three weeks. Some sources say he tried to get himself fired and succeeded. His experiences with ''Tora! Tora! Tora!'' and the failure of his next film ''Dodesukaden'' led to his CreatorBreakdown in 1971.

He was a notorious PrimaDonnaDirector, to the point where he earned the nickname "Tenno" or "The Emperor". Kurosawa's personality and demeanor made him unpopular in the Japanese film industry,[[note]]''Film/{{Ran}}'' did not get a nomination for best foreign language film because the Japanese film board refused to submit it, out of spite[[/note]] and his films were often divisive within Japan. Japanese critics often slammed Kurosawa for being "too Western" and they had a point. Kurosawa adapted Western stories from Creator/WilliamShakespeare and Creator/FyodorDostoevsky, ''Yojimbo'' was an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett novel ''Literature/TheGlassKey'', and ''High and Low'' was an adaptation of a novel by Creator/EdMcBain. Kurosawa also differed from earlier Japanese film-makers (like Creator/KenjiMizoguchi and Creator/YasujiroOzu) for being [[RatedMForManly quite macho]] and having very few prominent female roles compared to his predecessors and the general women-centric nature of Japanese cinema. Kurosawa also tended to write his own dialogues as he became more successful and rely less on screenwriters and Japanese critics often noted sardonically that his films improved in subtitles noting that to a Japanese audience, his movies often came off as sentimental, hokey, and as per Creator/YukioMishima having the maturity of a ten-year old.

* ''Film/TheLowerDepths1957'' - An adaptation of Creator/MaximGorky 's [[Theatre/TheLowerDepths social satire]], transported to Edo-era Japan.

He was a notorious PrimaDonnaDirector, to the point where he earned the nickname "Tenno" or "The Emperor". Kurosawa's personality and demeanor made him unpopular in the Japanese film industry,[[note]]''Film/{{Ran}}'' did not get a nomination for best foreign language film because the Japanese film board refused to submit it, out of spite[[/note]] and his films were often divisive within Japan. Japanese critics often slammed Kurosawa for being "too Western" and they were not wrong. Kurosawa often drew inspiration from Creator/WilliamShakespeare and Creator/FyodorDostoevsky and he often admitted to being influenced by directors like Creator/FrankCapra and especially Creator/JohnFord (Kurosawa took his love for Ford to the extent of dressing like him on the set) and a number of his films adapted American pulp fiction (''Yojimbo'' inspired by ''Literature/TheGlassKey'', ''High and Low'' adapted from Ed [=McBain=]). Kurosawa also differed from earlier Japanese film-makers (like Creator/KenjiMizoguchi and Creator/YasujiroOzu) for being [[RatedMForManly quite macho]] and having very few prominent female roles compared to his predecessors and the general women-centric nature of Japanese cinema. Kurosawa also tended to write his own dialogues as he became more successful and rely less on screenwriters and Japanese critics often noted sardonically that his films improved in subtitles noting that to a Japanese audience, his movies often came off as sentimental, hokey, and as per Creator/YukioMishima having the maturity of a ten-year old.