IMDb >
Rashômon (1950)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsRashômon (1950) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 17 | slideshow) | Videos |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
26 December 1951 (USA)
more
Tagline:
The husband, the wife...or the bandit?
Plot:
A heinous crime and its aftermath are recalled from differing points of view. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 7 wins
&
2 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
'Titanic' Collector's Edition to Go Interactive
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 16 March 2005)
Movie Reviews: 'Basic'
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 28 March 2003)
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 16 March 2005)
Movie Reviews: 'Basic'
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 28 March 2003)
User Comments:
What did we just see?
more (175 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Toshirô Mifune | ... | Tajômaru | |
| Machiko Kyô | ... | Masako Kanazawa | |
| Masayuki Mori | ... | Takehiro Kanazawa | |
| Takashi Shimura | ... | Woodcutter | |
| Minoru Chiaki | ... | Priest | |
| Kichijirô Ueda | ... | Commoner | |
| Noriko Honma | ... | Medium (as Fumiko Honma) | |
| Daisuke Katô | ... | Policeman |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Rashomon (Japan) (alternative transliteration)
Rashou-mon (Japan) (alternative transliteration)
more
Rashou-mon (Japan) (alternative transliteration)
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
88 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Australia:M |
Argentina:16 |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-16 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:15 |
Switzerland:14 |
UK:12 |
UK:X (original rating) |
USA:Unrated |
West Germany:16 |
USA:PG-13 |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In the wife's vision, the music used was only available during post-production. Kurosawa and his editor was amazed when they found that the music corresponded almost perfectly with the action on the screen, and thus they didn't need to change the scene to make it match the music.
more
Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)
more
FAQ
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERSIs Rashomon based on two stories?
What movies are inspired from or similar to Rashomon?
more
more (175 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Rashômon (1950) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Kaidan | Shichinin no samurai | Ran | Yojimbo | Anatomy of a Murder |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb top 250 movies | IMDb Crime section |
| IMDb Japan section | Add this title to MyMovies |



'People forget the unpleasant things. They only remember what they want to remember.'
In Rashomon the editing tells ½ of the story. It may feel experimental or unconventional, but Kurosawa perfects the concept second by second, directing and editing. This film didn't need a big budget to come perfectly to the point. It's a simple tale, but not a superficial tale. Different points of view and selective memories ('It's true! I saw it!') don't only make the woods unsafe, but are one of the most universal topics of humanity. 'We humans are weak creatures. That's why we lie, even to ourselves' says it all actually: it's about what people want to hear and when they start being interested at all, apart from wishful thinking. Selfish excuses vs trust in other people.
Rashomon gets masterful when in one instant there is literally a different point of view: the camera takes another position to shoot the same sequence, thereby forcing the audience to reconsider what they just saw. That is the sort of storytelling that the supposed masters of cinema in our time yet have to equal, or try to copy when they fail. Admitted 'Memento' (2000, Nolan) is a truly great one. Still not THAT universal. 'Pulp Fiction' (1994) didn't come close, 'La Commare Secca' (1962) also didn't. 'Ghost dog: the way of the samurai' (1999) touched another border of the concept, or does it?
The use of (non-original) music in my opinion reveals a certain interest for western influence, not only in Rashomon, but also in Kurosawa's forthcoming films, and is probably why his films were so influential on western filmmakers too.
The cinematography is dynamic and changes scene by scene to emphasize exactly what is going on. The shadows of leaves and branches, captured by cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa, make you really feel 'in the woods', while the actors (Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura) convince the remaining part of the audience (which adds up to 100% breathless viewers). It may be after days that you first realize you saw an important film. After weeks you realize that you must see it again to comprehend (despite it's only 85 min), and ironically that is just one of the crucial points that Kurosawa made. 10/10