The Hidden Fortress (kakushi-toride No San-akunin) (1958)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bob O

  
  If Japanese cinema icon Akira Kurosawa ever made a comedy of sorts, this is it. The Hidden Fortress follows two bumbling, stumbling, bickering peasants named Matashichi and Tahei -- the odd couple of samurai flicks -- on a cross country trek with a defeated general, a misplaced… More
  If Japanese cinema icon Akira Kurosawa ever made a comedy of sorts, this is it. The Hidden Fortress follows two bumbling, stumbling, bickering peasants named Matashichi and Tahei -- the odd couple of samurai flicks -- on a cross country trek with a defeated general, a misplaced princess, and 200 gold pieces. No one could create the world of feudal Japan like Kurosawa and his seminal picture weaves action/adventure and comedy into a heavenly melange set against a ruthless, medieval civil war where honor and loyalty are compromised in the service of self-preservation. That Kurosawa was able to contemplate his usual cultural themes and make The Hidden Fortress the tremendous entertainer it is, is a testament to the director's uncanny virtuosity. George Lucas took notice and modeled much of his original Star Wars after the ground Kurosawa had tread in The Hidden Fortress -- a minor masterpiece by the legendary filmmaker, but possibly his most enjoyable.

• Tim S

  
  To call this film a masterpiece is certainly an understatement. It is most prominently in film circles known as a direct inspiration for Star Wars, but I tend to leave those comparisons aside when viewing the actual film. It's just another round in the Kurosawa arsenal which… More
  To call this film a masterpiece is certainly an understatement. It is most prominently in film circles known as a direct inspiration for Star Wars, but I tend to leave those comparisons aside when viewing the actual film. It's just another round in the Kurosawa arsenal which was more powerful than any others at the time (and mostly today).

• Conner R

  
  I have to be honest, people really have to stop comparing this to Star Wars and searching for every possible parallel. Really the only connection here is the peasant characters being C-3PO and R2-D2, which George Lucas will admit openly. Just because there's a princess… More
  I have to be honest, people really have to stop comparing this to Star Wars and searching for every possible parallel. Really the only connection here is the peasant characters being C-3PO and R2-D2, which George Lucas will admit openly. Just because there's a princess doesn't mean it's Princess Leia. Hidden Fortress should be seen as something entirely different with a completely different message and overall plot. This is mostly a movie about selflessness and duty for the greater good, not just about one man or one woman. Akira Kurosawa's vision is flawless like it always is, never is there a frame left untamed. This has one of Toshiro Mifune's best performances too, he's a lot more subtle and powerful because of it.

• Stella D

  
  this was fun! but where was luke? or was that george lucas' own contribution: a hero named after himself lol

• Wahida K

  
  Nice Classic.

• Anthony L

  
  A fantastic film!!! Another classic from the master of cinema, Kurosawa paved the way for so many film makers. It really annoyed me watching the introduction by Lucas. He makes out that this is an OK film, his forth favourite Kurosawa film. Pah! if it weren't for this film, or… More
  A fantastic film!!! Another classic from the master of cinema, Kurosawa paved the way for so many film makers. It really annoyed me watching the introduction by Lucas. He makes out that this is an OK film, his forth favourite Kurosawa film. Pah! if it weren't for this film, or should i say, if it weren't for him ripping off this film, he wouldn't have a career! It beats the hell out of Star Wars!!! Fujiwara & Chiaki play the brilliant bumbling duo who's performances inspired R2-D2 and C3PO and Mifune and Shimura's performances show exactly why Kurosawa chose them for most of his films. A wonderful film!

• Aaron N

  
  General Rokurota Makabe: Hide a stone among stones and a man among men. An adventure film involving a rag tag team, sword fights, princesses on the run, gold, and epic widescreen frames. Its another good film from Kurosawa, although I was not as taken by it as some of his other… More
  General Rokurota Makabe: Hide a stone among stones and a man among men. An adventure film involving a rag tag team, sword fights, princesses on the run, gold, and epic widescreen frames. Its another good film from Kurosawa, although I was not as taken by it as some of his other works. The story involves two peasant farmers, who are refugees, trying to return home after a war. They find gold, and join with a mysterious powerful-looking man and a mysterious beautiful girl. Together they attempt to smuggle the gold across the border and evade capture. Its a simple set up for a two hour plus film. Film length never really bothers me, but I have a feeling I would have been more interested if I saw this on a huge screen. It has some sweeping, adventure type situations occurring throughout, which would just be better appreciated in the larger venue. The film manages to be funny and exciting. A main influence on Star Wars, you can see this kind of adventure film setup in many popular films decades later. Badass hero, beautiful but spunky heroine, comic relief side characters, and wipe transitions. It has all these elements and looks great through Kurosawa's lens. Its an enjoyable film, but probably more engaging for a bigger audience seeing it on a large, wide screen. Tahei: Get away from me! You stink of dead bodies!

• Chris W

  
  This is a really fun adventure movie, and the influence it had on Star Wars helps its credibility as well. The impact of the social,political, and cultural class elements will be lost on some Western viewers, but that's no big deal. The film is still well-made, enjoyable, and… More
  This is a really fun adventure movie, and the influence it had on Star Wars helps its credibility as well. The impact of the social,political, and cultural class elements will be lost on some Western viewers, but that's no big deal. The film is still well-made, enjoyable, and funny.

• xGary X

  
  A pair of bickering escaped slaves stumble upon the mountain hideout of a defeated general and his princess who are being hunted by the occupying army. They decide to join forces (with the added incentive of a horde of royal gold) to reach friendly territory. Widely acknowledged as… More
  A pair of bickering escaped slaves stumble upon the mountain hideout of a defeated general and his princess who are being hunted by the occupying army. They decide to join forces (with the added incentive of a horde of royal gold) to reach friendly territory. Widely acknowledged as the inspiration for Star Wars, it has also influenced a huge number of other stories including TV show Monkey, Hero and everything in between. The imagery is as gorgeous as you'd expect from Kurosawa, the characters brilliantly written and the performances all perfect, from Toshiro Mifune's commanding general, to the striking Misa Uehara as the noble but fiery princess. The two greedy and bad tempered slaves provide the comic relief, and it has everything you could possibly want from an adventure; laughs, action, excitement and heroism. Yet another masterpiece from a true genius.

• Ken S

  
  Mifune is gold, all the characters are great! An inspiration for Star Wars.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Enjoyable little film from the master, that still touches subjects about the human nature that are very common in Kurosawa's work. In this case most notabbly is greed, and how it can drive people to even risk their lives as long as there is a promise of some goods. Excellent… More
  Enjoyable little film from the master, that still touches subjects about the human nature that are very common in Kurosawa's work. In this case most notabbly is greed, and how it can drive people to even risk their lives as long as there is a promise of some goods. Excellent performance, as usual, by Mifune, and also a very good one by Misa Uehara as princess Yuki, who also happens to be quite attractive in a very odd tomboyish way. And fuck you George Lucas, stop leeching attention from this. You're like fucking Tarantino.

• Saskia D

  
  Saw this movie again, and it's hilarious! I love how the characters of the Princess, the General (Toshiro Mifune :) and the two 'farmers' are magnified by their bodylanguage and facial expressions. This is definitely still one of my favorites.

• danny d

  
  lucas' major inspiration for star wars, this is a great film. a must watch, one of kurosawa's best

• Michael G

  
  This is where Star Wars comes from...!

• Matthew Y

  
  The Hidden Fortress is more lighthearted fair then typical Kirosawa films and possibly the most marketable of his collaborations with Mifune. The two bumbling thieves were the inspiration for R2D2 and C3P0 and the entire concept of looking for a missing princess is taken and used for… More
  The Hidden Fortress is more lighthearted fair then typical Kirosawa films and possibly the most marketable of his collaborations with Mifune. The two bumbling thieves were the inspiration for R2D2 and C3P0 and the entire concept of looking for a missing princess is taken and used for the original Star Wars. In fact Kurosawas's epic filmmaking and melodramatic style were major inspirations for Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola and it shows in just about all their films. Star Wars, The Godfather, Saving Private Ryan all borrowed from Kurosawa's filmmaking technics and narrative style. The film itself is certainly worth a watch, what Kirosawa film isn't?

• Gevvy S

  
  The film that inspired Star Wars is it's superior in every way. Kurosawa's jidai-geki film does not take place in galaxies far far away, but in the mountains along feudal territory borders. The character don't travel in technologically advanced (and realistically… More
  The film that inspired Star Wars is it's superior in every way. Kurosawa's jidai-geki film does not take place in galaxies far far away, but in the mountains along feudal territory borders. The character don't travel in technologically advanced (and realistically impossible) pods or spaceships, but on horses and often by foot. The lead actors in Star Wars like Harrison Ford are rubbish and wooden compared to the commanding and mature performance given by Toshiro Mifune. Nothing in any Hollywood action film is as exhilarating as seeing him hunt down two enemy soldiers on horseback with both his hands on the handle of his sword (not some oversized glow stick). The fierce voice that Misa Uehara brings with her to the role of the princess puts Carrie Fisher's unspectacular performance to shame. Furthermore, the dull interaction between C3PO and R2D2 pales in comparison to the hilarious comedy of Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujiwara. The two peasants are not helping the princess because of loyalty or some power of the force, in fact they don't even know she's the princess! They are just doing it to get their share of 200 gold pieces which are being smuggled along with the princess. So their motivation is simply greed, which is easier to relate to and makes much more sense psychologically. The greed of the two bumbling peasants allows for a much more complex relationship to develop between them, the princess, and the general (Toshiro Mifune). They are not simply sidekicks or henchmen, they have their own desires and intentions which further create tension and conflict. Their greed is also a commentary on the selfishness of people in society. In terms of direction, of course Kurosawa's film flows much more smoothly, more naturally, and more coherently than Star Wars, which was very awkward at times as it went from one scene to another; this is because Kurosawa's use of slide wipe are more fluent in their execution and seem like transitions, while Lucas' forced use of those same slide wipes seem like skipping. Ultimately, Hidden Fortress is an thrilling adventure with 4 memorable characters who have incredible experiences which are such a joy to watch. Funny it was easier to relate to a film set 500 years in the past than a film set 500 (or more) years in the future. Well, to give to some props to George Lucas atleast he did admit this film's influence on Star Wars, at least he changed the name of the film, and he also helped finance Kurosawa's late epic Kagemusha; don't be misled though the real respect should be paid to Kurosawa, the Emperor of filmmaking.

• Chris B

  
  Another Kurosawa masterpiece, The Hidden Fortress is a fun and really well done film that is just a fun and engaging watch! Great character portrayals and a stunning screenplay filled with adventure and stunning battles. Mifune gives a reserved and masterful performance that is… More
  Another Kurosawa masterpiece, The Hidden Fortress is a fun and really well done film that is just a fun and engaging watch! Great character portrayals and a stunning screenplay filled with adventure and stunning battles. Mifune gives a reserved and masterful performance that is typical of the legendary actor. An amazing film that holds up amazingly well and is a pleasure to watch!

• Curt C

  
  Fantastic story, excellent performance by Toshirô Mifune, and every other actor/actress annoyed the hell out of me.

• Ed Fucking H

  
  Another unfuckwitable classic from Akira Kurusawa. A mos revered army general attempts to smuggle the princess through enemy lines, along with his clan's gold, with the help of two cowardly peasants. Hilarity, duels, conniving, backstabbing and team work ensue, in this Kurosawa… More
  Another unfuckwitable classic from Akira Kurusawa. A mos revered army general attempts to smuggle the princess through enemy lines, along with his clan's gold, with the help of two cowardly peasants. Hilarity, duels, conniving, backstabbing and team work ensue, in this Kurosawa classic. Star's Kurosawa regular's Toshiro Mifune, Kamatari Fujiwara and Minoru Chiaki as well as Misa Uehara. All te performances are great, but Toshiro Mifune definently stands out. This guy was like the Clint Eastwood of Samurai films, and which ever film he's in he always seems to steal the show. Not much else to say, required viewing

• Doctor S

  
  I got to see this one as a restored uncut print at Eastman House in Rochester, NY.

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