Yoidore tenshi (1948)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Akira Kurosawa (writer)
Keinosuke Uegusa (writer)

Release Date:

30 December 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

After a battle with rival criminals, a small-time gangster is treated by an alcoholic doctor in post-war Japan...

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Doctor | Criminal | Alcoholic | Post War Japan

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Takashi Shimura	...	Doctor Sanada
Toshirô Mifune	...	Matsunaga
Reisaburo Yamamoto	...	Okada
Michiyo Kogure	...	Nanae
Chieko Nakakita	...	Nurse Miyo
Noriko Sengoku	...	Gin
Shizuko Kasagi	...	Singer
Eitarô Shindô	...	Takahama
Masao Shimizu	...	Boss
Taiji Tonoyama	...	Shop Proprietor
Yoshiko Kuga	...	Schoolgirl
Chouko Iida	...	Old maid servant
Isamu Ikukata	...	Punk
Akira Tani	...	Yakuza Follower
Sachio Sakai	...	Guitar Player

Also Known As:

Drunken Angel (International: English title)

Runtime:

98 min | Japan:150 min (director's cut) | USA:102 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-15 (2005) | Australia:PG | Sweden:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Toho Company

Trivia:

In early drafts of the script, the story was almost entirely about Doctor Sanada (Takashi Shimura) and Matsunaga the thug (Toshirô Mifune) was a small supporting part. However, Akira Kurosawa was so impressed with Mifune's performance that he greatly increased the Matsunaga part, to the point where the Doctor and Matsunaga are almost equal in screen-time.

Quotes:

Dr. Sanada: He tormented you, made you sick, and then deserted you like a puppy. And you still wag your tail and follow him.

Another classic from arguably the greatest filmmaker of all time.

Drunken Angel is another classic from arguably the greatest filmmaker of all-time. The story revolves around a petty gangster (Toshiro Mifune), who contracts TB and the Doctor (Takashi Shimura) who attempts to treat him despite the gangster's foolish pride. Mifune and Shimura, Kurosawa regulars, are brilliant in their respective roles. Kurosawa takes on film noir as well as any auteurs of his time. This is a must see for Kurosawa fans.