Drunken Angel (1948) Yoidore tenshi (original title)

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Keinosuke Uekusa (written by)
Akira Kurosawa (written by)

Release Date:

30 December 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A drunken doctor with a hot temper and a violence-prone gangster with tuberculosis form a quicksilver bond.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Gangster | Yakuza | Tuberculosis | Bullet

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Takashi Shimura	...	Sanada
Toshirô Mifune	...	Matsunaga
Reisaburô Yamamoto	...	Okada
Michiyo Kogure	...	Nanae
Chieko Nakakita	...	Miyo
Noriko Sengoku	...	Gin
Shizuko Kasagi	...	Singer
Eitarô Shindô	...	Takahama
Masao Shimizu	...	Oyabun
Taiji Tonoyama	...	Shop Proprietor
Yoshiko Kuga	...	Schoolgirl
Chôko Iida	...	Bâya
Ko Ubukata	...	Punk
Akira Tani	...	Yakuza Follower
Sachio Sakai	...	Guitar Player
Senkichi Ômura
Tateo Kawasaki	...	Flower Shop Proprietor
Mayuri Mokusho	...	Daughter at Flower Shop (as Kumiko Mokushô)
Toshiko Kawakubo	...	Dancer
Haruko Toyama	...	Dancer
Yukie Nanbu	...	Dancer
Sumire Shiroki	...	Anego
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yôko Sugi	...	Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Akira Kurosawa

Writing credits
Keinosuke Uekusa		(written by)
Akira Kurosawa		(written by)

Produced by
Sôjirô Motoki	....	producer

Original Music by
Fumio Hayasaka

Cinematography by
Takeo Itô

Film Editing by
Akikazu Kono

Production Design by
Takashi Matsuyama

Set Decoration by
Takashi Matsuyama

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tsuneo Kobayashi	....	chief assistant director

Art Department
Yoshirô Muraki	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Wataru Konuma	....	sound
Ichirô Minawa	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Masao Soeda	....	still photographer
Kinzo Yoshizawa	....	lighting technician

Editorial Department
Akikazu Kono	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Ôsuke Itô	....	musician: guitar

Other crew
Sumiko Nakao	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Toho Company

Distributors

• Toho Company (1948) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Brandon Films (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Cowboy Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Connaissance du Cinéma (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1969) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinema (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Lume Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Toho Video (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
• Toho Video (2010) (Japan) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• WoWow (2012) (Japan) (TV)

Other Companies

• Toho Studios  sound stages

Also Known As:

"Yoidore tenshi" - Japan (original 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:

Sweden:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | Finland:K-15 (2005) | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/12

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.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Even though the story takes place during the hot summer, breath can be seen coming from characters in several scenes.

Quotes:

Dr. Sanada:Fall in love for someone like me, I may be scrubby but you get free medical care

Soundtrack:

Mädchen, brav und treu

A strong reflection of the morals of man

A very, very vivid film from Japanese legend, Akira Kurosawa. The Japanese town that is the setting for "Drunken Angel" is vividly captured by Kurosawa, and the filthy swamp that separates the doctor from the filthiness of the town is brilliant. Toshiro Mifune plays a tuberculosis stricken gangster who is slowly won over, despite his vicious pride, by the caring but sarcastic doctor. The swamp is a reflection of the corruption in the town and in one of the first scenes a group of children are seen playing in it. Kurosawa's way of foreshadowing these children's future since the town is controlled by the immoral gangsters. With the arrival of Okadu, a released convict and gangster, and struggles with his health, Mifune struggles through conflicts of soul which are brilliantly metaphored by Kurosawa. A great drama with some brilliant commentary about post-WW2 Japan. Solid characters carry with film about typical with the Doctor being an unforgettable creation and Toshiro Mifune giving a powerful performance.