The HIdden Fortress

In The Hidden Fortress Toshiro Mifune stars as a dutiful bodyguard to a princess. But in many ways he and the princess play second fiddle to a pair of cowardly peasants. Akira Kurosawa, the director, tells the story much from their perspective, and George Lucas said that this inspired him in his use of the bickering robots in Star Wars (although only one robot speaks in Lucas' film).

The plot is one that can be often found in science fiction, as well as period pieces. Two regions are at war with each other, and one side has put a bounty on the head of the princess (Misa Uehara) who is a pretty tough customer herself. Mifune is tasked with getting her to an allied country. He finds two peasants who have found gold bars and, driven by their greed, help Mifune with the promise of more gold. They even give him the idea of entering the country through another country.

The film was released in 1958 and wasn't critically acclaimed at first, as it had come after The Seven Samurai and Throne Of Blood, and it was far more light-hearted and inspired by Hollywood. In fact, it could be called a comedy action film, as the two peasants, Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujita, are almost like a Japanese version of any number of Western comedy teams, such as Laurel and Hardy. Their cowardice and avarice fuel the plot of the film.

If the film isn't as deep as some of Kurosawa's other films, it is stirring and great fun. I think of the shot when Mifune has to chase down two soldiers on horseback. His sword is raised at a ninety-degree angle, his countenance fixed, as he dispatches the two soldiers.

The Hidden Fortress is well worth seeing, especially for those interested in Kurosawa or Japanese film.