The Hidden Fortress (1957) Review - Dylan McCully

Written by Dylan McCully, 10/26/22

Dylan McCully's Cinema: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls521125877/

The Hidden Fortress represents another massive monument in Kurosawa's already acclaimed career. A blistering samurai epic starring Toshiro Mifune in the leading role is something that is not new for Kurosawa, yet it still feels just as expressive and masterful as all of his others. As Kurosawa's first widescreen picture, The Hidden Fortress is a treat for the eyes, as big sets and waves of extras make the world feel lived in and fully realized.

The Hidden Fortress concerns two peasants, Tahei (played by Minoru Chiaki) and Matashichi (played by Kamatari Fujiwara), who end trying to join the Yamana clan and become rich, but end up going through some troublesome situations when they are captured by a rival clan. They are briefly split up, but end up escaping in a prisoner uprising. When camping, Toshiro Mifune's character Makabe Rokurōta, a general, takes the peasants to a camp and relays a mission on them - they all must escort Princess Yuki (played by Misa Uehara) to safety. Will our gang successly save the princess, or will Tahei and Matashichi's buffoonery get in the way? And, what will happen when Rokurōta comes face to face with his old rival?

If any of this sounds vaguely familiar, that's because George Lucas ripped it off for the plot of Star Wars. Lots of Kurosawa's films were adapted in some way for a western audience, and I actually don't have much against Lucas stealing ideas, as most great filmmakers steal from their favorite movies. If it works, it works. One aspect that really makes The Hidden Fortress stand out is the comedic bits, mostly involving the peasants. Just watching them smash sticks into the ground to find gold is entertaining, and the actors do a great job at the slapstick elements. Another contrast is if you compare this to Kurosawa's previous effort, The Lower Depths, which is much more brooding and dark. The Lower Depths is one of Kurosawa's absolute best, capturing every element that makes his films so timeless. 8.5/10

Akira Kurosawa Ranking:

1. Seven Samurai (1954) - 10/10

2. Ikiru (1952) - 9/10

3. Rashomon (1950) - 9/10

4. The Hidden Fortress (1958) - 8.5/10

5. Throne of Blood (1957) - 8/10

6. Stray Dog (1949) - 7.5/10

7. I Live In Fear (1955) - 7/10

8. Drunken Angel (1948) - 6.5/10

9. The Lower Depths (1957) - 6/10