Musashi miyamoto is the first part of the samurai trilogy by director inagaki hiroshi featuring lead actor mifune toshiro based upon based the novel by yoshikawa eiji about the famous philospher, duelist and author of the book of five rings. Samurai i musashi miyamoto, the first of a trilogy by inagaki, is an excellent example of the genre, justly winning an academy award for best foreign film in 1955. A disillusioned musashi miyamoto toshiro mifune has turned his back on the samurai life, becoming a farmer in a remote village, while his nemesis kojiro koji tsuruta now works. The story starts out in the year 1600, towards the end of the sengoku period of jidai geki japan. Miyamoto musashi this in my humble opinion is the secret of life. Toshiro mifune furiously embodies swordsman musashi miyamoto as he comes into his own in the actionpacked middle section of the samurai trilogy. In contrast to the earlier, more actionoriented samurai i and ii, this final section shows its hero musashi toshiro mifune struggling with questions as m. The brush is the sword of the mindmiyamoto musashi budo.
Miyamoto musashi was japans greatest samurai, everand then became a great zen buddhist meditator, when he authored the book of five rings, a classic book of strategy and sage advice i first fell in love with miyamoto musashi, a wild tiger of a wandering ronin masterless samurai, when i saw the samurai trilogy. Samurai iii duel at ganryu island 1956 theatrical trailer. When we meet him, miyamoto is a wideeyed romantic, dreaming of military glory in the civil war that is ravaging the seventeenthcentury countryside. In color, which many of the other japanese films in my collection are not, the cinematography is lovely.
The samurai trilogy musashi miyamoto duel at ichijoji temple duel at. Musashi miyamoto, the first feature in a trilogy based on the epic novel by eiji yoshikawa. The films are based on musashi, a novel by eiji yoshikawa about the famous duelist and author of the book of. But he is saved by a woman who loves him and a cunning priest who guides him.
Depicts the early life of the legendary warrior musashi miyamoto. Musashi miyamoto 1954, directed by hiroshi inagaki part i of the samurai trilogy, starring toshiro mifune as musashi. Continuing from musashi book sky a chat with the men lord hosokawa tadatoshi ponders over who is a worthier swordsman and samurai. Musashi is among japans supreme folk heroes, a seventeenthcentury warrior whose exploits have inspired books, plays, movies, and television shows. Musashi miyamoto toshiro mifune honiden matahachi rentaro mikuni takuan osho kuroemon onoe otsu kaoru yachigusa akemi mariko okada oko, matahachis wife mitsuko mito osugi, matahachis mother eiko miyoshi seijuro yoshioka akihiko hirata temma. Samurai ii duel at ichijoji temple 1955 musashi miyamoto returns to kyoto after years of absence.
A disillusioned musashi miyamoto toshiro mifune has turned his back on the samurai life, becoming a farmer in a remote village, while his nemesis kojiro koji tsuruta now works for the shogun. With the hubbub about seven samurai 1954 in which he starred, one toshiro mifune title that doesnt get talked about is his samurai trilogy with director hiroshi inagaki. Some patience is required for the first half, and many of the secondary characters are not as complex as one would like, but there is a. A major reason for the lasting importance of musashi miyamoto the historical figure played by toshiro mifune in the samurai trilogyin japanese and world culture is his work the book of five rings, a seventeenthcentury treatise on the wandering samurai s principles of swordplay and spirituality that is still widely read today. In the first part of the epic samurai trilogy, toshiro mifune thunders onto the screen as the iconic title character. Original theatrical trailer for the third film in hiroshi inagakis acclaimed samurai trilogy, about the life and times of legendary 17th century swordsman musashi miyamoto. Toshiro mifune as miyamoto musashi aka shinmen takezo in hiroshi inagaki miyamoto musashi. The movies star toshiro mifune as the legendary figure musashi miyamoto and is. The samurai trilogy musashi miyamoto duel at ichijoji temple duel at ganryu. Each film chronicles miyamotos growth from hotheaded soldier birth name takezo to disciplined samurai warrior as he fights duels and constantly perfects his. Musashi miyamoto is a 1954 color eastmancolor japanese film by hiroshi inagaki starring toshiro mifune. Quote from the book of five rings written by the most honored and prevalent of all samurai, miyamoto musashi.
The films are based on musashi, a novel by eiji yoshikawa about the famous duelist and author of the book of five rings. Miyamoto musashi shows the young samurai aspirant as a hotheaded. Here, william scott wilson, historian and translator of the. But the duels of samurai and master swordsmen depicted in novels, cinema, and manga are fictional accounts based on a biography of musashi. Toshiro mifune defines the quintessential samurai in hiroshi inagakis 1954. Musashi miyamoto expertly balances action, plot, and character development, and perfectly sets the stage for the rest of the series. Hang your posters in dorms, bedrooms, offices, or anywhere blank walls arent welcome. Convalescing wannabe samurai matahachi rentaro mikuni misbehaving with his host akemi mariko odada, who turns out to be more interested in his virile buddy takeso toshiro mifune, in director hiroshi inagakis samurai 1. Charting the life of famed japanese swordsman musashi miyamoto, the trilogy started in 1954 with part 1 and continuing once a year until january 1956. First in the trilogy based on the life of seventeenth century samurai warrior musashi miyamoto toshiro mifune. Mifune actually played musashi in 4 different films.
Kanketsu sasaki kojiro ganryuto ketto, miyamoto musashi, zoku miyamoto musashi. Miyamoto musashi is a legendary figure in japanese history. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his unique doublebladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels next is 33 by ito. Toshiro mifune defines the quintessential samurai in hiroshi inagakis 1954 samurai i. An early color production by toho studios, it became one of the most expensive. When we meet him, miyamoto is a wideeyed romantic, dreaming of military glory in the civil war that is. Duel at ichijoji temple furthers miyamoto along his path to spiritual enlightenment, as well as further from the arms of the two women who love him.
Meeting the master of the book of five rings few samurai in japanese. Duel at ganryu island english subtitled prime video. Hiroshi inagakis the samurai trilogy gave toshiro mifune one of his most. The samurai trilogy is a collection of three films. Samurai ii duel at ichijoji temple 1955 trailer toshiro. After a series of fights against the yoshioka school, he challenges its master to. The sight of toshiro mifune in samurai garb may occasionally fool you in to thinking this is a kurosawa film, but every other aspect will make you pine for akiras controlling hand. Toshiro mifune mifune toshiro, april 1, 1920 december 24, 1997 was a japanese actor who appeared in over 150 feature films.
Englishspeaking audiences have enjoyed this epic novel of the samurai era, as well as a number of film versions inspired by the book such as the samurai trilogy directed by inagaki hiroshi and starring mifune toshiro. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 3 days to finish once started. In fact the first part, musashi miyamoto 1954, was only the fourth japanese film to receive distribution in america. The samurai trilogy is a film trilogy directed by hiroshi inagaki and starring toshiro mifune as musashi miyamoto and koji tsuruta as kojiro sasaki. Musashi miyamoto 1955 movie clip hes always been ruthless.
As in kurosawas classic seven samurai, which appeared the same year, mifune plays a brash and ambitious peasant who desires fame and power as a swordsman. The first installment of hiroshi inagakis samurai trilogy, samurai 1. The samurai trilogy, directed by hiroshi inagaki for toho pictures, stars mifune as a wild untamed youth named takezo, from miyamoto village, who becomes a polished swordsman and artisan, renamed musashi miyamoto, and travels japan in the early 1600s seeking wisdom and enlightenment, but mostly tests of skill, all while being pursued by two. Ichijoji no ketto 1955, directed by hiroshi inagaki part ii of the samurai trilogy, starring toshiro mifune as musashi. Toshiro mifune shows a vast range of emotion, power and character growth in these. The brush is the sword of the mindmiyamoto musashi. The film is adapted from eiji yoshikawa s novel musashi. H iroshi inagaki s the samurai trilogy gave toshiro mifune one of his most important starring roles, as musashi miyamoto, a masterless, wandering samurai whose skill with a sword is so great no one can match him. Duel at ichijoji temple furthers miyamoto along his path to spiritual enlightenment, as well as further fro. Wild orphan miyamoto leaves his home village to join the army with his best friend matahachi, who is betrothed to local girl otsu. Duel at ganryu island 1956 musashi miyamoto is challenged to a duel by a confident swordsman sasaki kojiro. He is best known for his 16film collaboration 194865 with akira kurosawa in such works as rashomon, seven samurai, the hidden fortress, throne of blood.
I enjoy japanese films, and toshiro mifune is one of my favorite actors. The three films in hiroshi inagakis samurai trilogy are among the most widely seen japanese films in the u. Musashi miyamoto 1954, duel at ichijoji temple 1955, and duel at ganryu island 1956. Musashi miyamoto, duel at ichijoji temple and duel at ganryu island. Japanese the samurai trilogy is a film trilogy directed by hiroshi inagaki and starring toshiro mifune as musashi miyamoto and koji tsuruta as kojiro sasaki. He was one of one of japans bestknown and bestloved novelists. It is the first film of inagakis samurai trilogy of historical adventures. Quotes from miyamoto musashi, a legendary swordsman from feudal japan. Musashi miyamoto is a 1954 film from japan, a jidai geki samurai movie, starring toshiro mifune, which somehow is not directed by akira kurosawa. Samurai iii, duel at ganryu island, is the last and best part of hiroshi inagakis trilogy. While not a household name in the west, mifune s best work transcends those regional barriers. Duel on ganryu island 1956 see more miyamoto musashi, manga love, best artist, martial, art reference, character inspiration, samurai, otaku, comic books. The movies star toshiro mifune as the legendary figure musashi miyamoto and is loosely based on his life particularly the novel written by eiji yoshikawa. Musashi miyamoto, this novel was written by eiji yoshikawa.