Miyamoto Musashi (Samurai 1: Musashi Miyamoto) (The Legend of Musashi) (Master Swordsman) (1955)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Conner R

  
  I must be in the minority, but I think this is a really dull movie chalk full of wasted talent. The poor and uninspired direction really ruin the movie, no time is spent on the glorious landscapes, sets and costumes. That would be acceptable if the story was taken as the focus, but… More
  I must be in the minority, but I think this is a really dull movie chalk full of wasted talent. The poor and uninspired direction really ruin the movie, no time is spent on the glorious landscapes, sets and costumes. That would be acceptable if the story was taken as the focus, but even that lacks intrigue. In the end, it's a very jumbled movie. Toshiro Mifune is really the only part that I would say is above average, he always manages to be an interesting screen presence.

• danny d

  
  the first of the 3 films in this trilogy is exceptional. great story and character development, and awe inspiring landscapes. although embellished and told out of order to musashi's life, the story is compelling and still lets us in on the legend and psychology of the greatest… More
  the first of the 3 films in this trilogy is exceptional. great story and character development, and awe inspiring landscapes. although embellished and told out of order to musashi's life, the story is compelling and still lets us in on the legend and psychology of the greatest swordsman in japanese history.

• Stella D

  
  good film. see mifune defeat 50 swordsman using only a stick! ...is it just me or is he still playing the fool from seven samurai? pt 1 of a trilogy...so that's 3 i'm in the midst of lol. this one covers takezo's origin and the beginning of his training as a samurai

• Saskia D

  
  It was hard to get my hands on, but I finally got it on dvd! Mifune is the best choice for the role of Musashi Miyamoto. This is the firs part of a trilogy.

• Ken S

  
  Toshiro Mifune the constant badass that he is, earns his right to train to become a samurai. Color color and color and set design bring Samurai ear Japan to life.

• Byron B

  
  Takezo goes to battle trying to make a name for himself. His friend Matahashi follows him, leaving behind a fiance. The battle does not go well and as they stagger back home they stop to be cared for at the isolated home of a mother and daughter. The mother and daughter use… More
  Takezo goes to battle trying to make a name for himself. His friend Matahashi follows him, leaving behind a fiance. The battle does not go well and as they stagger back home they stop to be cared for at the isolated home of a mother and daughter. The mother and daughter use abandoned supplies from dead soldiers to make trades with bandits. Still both men fall for the daughter (Oko), but later when the mother lies about Takezo attacking her, Oko becomes bitter. Takezo is left behind, when the women decide to leave hurriedly and take Matahashi along as their protector from bandits. Matahashi will not return to his fiance. Takezo is known to be wild and unruly and so is not wanted when he returns to his hometown to break the news to his friend's mother (Osugi) and fiance (Otsu). Mother Osugi blames Takezo for everything. He is outlawed and hunted around the hills of the town. A wise priest (Takuan) realizes it is not by force and numbers that Takezo will be caught, and heads to the hills to bring Takezo to justice. Otsu starts preferring the company of the priest and Takezo instead of the sad memories at mother Osugi's house. The priest begins to teach Takezo how to be a man, not an animal, suggesting that the fight in his spirit is a good thing if he could just use it for the good of man. Eventually Takezo and Otsu run away to start a new life together but Otsu is captured and this renews the anger in Takezo. The priest must intervene again making sure Otsu is safe, and resorts to more extreme measures by locking Takezo in a room with a bunch of books to force him to become educated and be introspective. Years go by... Finally Takezo's name is changed to Musashi Miyamoto, a name more appropriate for a samurai. By now Oko have a daughter, Akemi. Musashi has more training to accomplish but cannot resist seeing Otsu one more time before he goes, even though the priest advised him to cut himself off from his past. Takezo now has a new life before him, many travels, and a couple more movies!

• Panta O

  
  Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵) has a legendary status in Japan. This 1954 Japanese film by Hiroshi Inagaki starring my favourite actor Toshirō Mifune was the first film of Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy of historical adventures. The… More
  Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵) has a legendary status in Japan. This 1954 Japanese film by Hiroshi Inagaki starring my favourite actor Toshirō Mifune was the first film of Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy of historical adventures. The screenplay was an adaptation of Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi which is loosely based on the life of the famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. In the 50's was a real hit and it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (1955). If you want the full story, I'll suggest to check the other two films in the trilogy : Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple and Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island. It is a movie with a simple message but delivered in such a way that nothing is missing: from depth of contemplating moral dilemmas, to love, meaning of life, urge to explore, fighting (very realistic - no flying swordsmen here)... it is a real smorgasbord of subjects! The story starts following the battle of Sekigahara (1600 AD), where Takezo (Toshirō Mifune) and his friend Matahachi (Rentaro Mikuni) find themselves on the losing side. Instead of the grand victory and glory Takezo had anticipated, he finds himself a hunted fugitive... I won't be retelling the full story, but at the end film shows Takezo being granted his samurai name 'Musashi Miyamoto' leaving to search for enlightenment! Superb acting with some minor editing glitches and very enjoyable directing of the best cinematography at the time! Traditional music won't win too many fans but for me worked well... Recommended for everyone with real interest in film history!

• Chris B

  
  Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto is the first look into The Samurai Trilogy and at Toshiro Mifune's stunning portrayal as the legend himself! We are introduced to Miyamoto from the beginning and see that he has substantial skill but is also a short fused and uncontrollable man.… More
  Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto is the first look into The Samurai Trilogy and at Toshiro Mifune's stunning portrayal as the legend himself! We are introduced to Miyamoto from the beginning and see that he has substantial skill but is also a short fused and uncontrollable man. Throughout the film he is betrayed and sold out but in the end its the young girl Otsu that saves him. Miyamoto is later imprisoned in an attic and told he must learn discipline and the way of the Samurai. After a few years he is released, but must be separated from Otsu once again in order to gain experience and knowledge in his travels. As the first film comes to a close we see Miyamoto walking off into the sunset and Otsu reading Miyamoto's farewell and forgive me inscriptions he carved into the bridge where moments before they had finally reunited.

• a b

  
  Toshiro Mifune is a man amongst boys.

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