Rashomon (1950) Rashômon (original title)

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Ryûnosuke Akutagawa (stories)
Akira Kurosawa (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 December 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

The husband, the wife...or the bandit?

Plot:

A heinous crime and its aftermath are recalled from differing points of view.

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | Trial | Priest | Murder | Truth

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 9 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Toshirô Mifune	...	Tajômaru
Machiko Kyô	...	Masako Kanazawa
Masayuki Mori	...	Takehiro Kanazawa
Takashi Shimura	...	Woodcutter
Minoru Chiaki	...	Priest
Kichijirô Ueda	...	Commoner
Noriko Honma	...	Medium
Daisuke Katô	...	Policeman

Directed by
Akira Kurosawa

Writing credits
Ryûnosuke Akutagawa		(stories Rashomon and In a Grove)
Akira Kurosawa		(screenplay) and
Shinobu Hashimoto		(screenplay)

Produced by
Minoru Jingo	....	producer
Masaichi Nagata	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Fumio Hayasaka

Cinematography by
Kazuo Miyagawa

Film Editing by
Akira Kurosawa

Production Design by
Takashi Matsuyama

Set Decoration by
H. Motsumoto

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tokuzô Tanaka	....	assistant director
Mitsuo Wakasugi	....	assistant director

Visual Effects by
Aurelio x. Vera Jr.	....	restoration artist (restored version)

Camera and Electrical Department
Fujiro Morita	....	assistant camera
Kenichi Okamoto	....	lighting technician

Other crew
François Vila	....	press agent

Production Companies

• Daiei Motion Picture Company (as Daiei Eiga)

Distributors

• Daiei Motion Picture Company (1950) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Kadokawa Pictures (2008) (Japan) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Jesnet (2009) (Japan) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Allianz Filmverleih (1952) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Edward Harrison (1957) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Janus Films (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (restoration)
• Los Films del Búho (1984) (Spain) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Sascha Filmverleih (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• trigon-film (2011) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Dolmen (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (video)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1978) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Sandrews (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Tocantins (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• WoWow (2012) (Japan) (TV)
• trigon-film (2011) (Austria) (all media)
• trigon-film (2011) (Germany) (DVD) (HD restored)
• trigon-film (2011) (Germany) (all media)
• trigon-film (2011) (Switzerland) (DVD) (HD restored)
• trigon-film (2012) (Switzerland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Daiei Studios  studio
• Lowry Digital Images  restoration: 2008

Also Known As:

"Rashômon" - Japan (original title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 (cut) | Switzerland:14 | UK:12 | UK:X (original rating) | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Daiei Tokyo Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Daiei Motion Picture Company

Trivia:

Akira Kurosawa asked Toshirô Mifune to model his character's movements after wildlife, particularly the lion. Kurosawa's vision of how a lion was supposed to move was heavily influenced by the wildlife documentary work of husband-and-wife team Martin E. Johnson and Osa Johnson.

Quotes:

Priest:A man's been murdered.
Commoner:So what? Only one? Why, up on top of this gate, there's always five or six bodies. No one worries about them.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Uncertainty (2009)

Masterclass storytelling

Rashomon by Akira is probably one of his very best, from his storytelling to the visuals, the picture is amazing.

The film is about about the truth, and burying it because no one can handle it. People prefer to live a lie than admit the truth, very reminiscent of today's world. The characters are talking to us, we are the jury.

The performances are amazing, nothing acting is so good, blows away today's competition.

The film score is stunning as well, one of my favourites from a Japanese film.

The direction is breathtaking, the jungle is beautifully lit, it has a sense of horror to it. Black and white was the perfect choice.

Overall, an amazing film from a genius!