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IMDbPro

Yojimbo

Original title: Yôjinbô
  • 19611961
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
121K
YOUR RATING
Toshirô Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai in Yojimbo (1961)
A crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town.
Play trailer2:35
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town.A crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town.A crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town.
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
121K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Akira Kurosawa
  • Writers
    • Akira Kurosawa(story)
    • Ryûzô Kikushima(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Toshirô Mifune
    • Eijirô Tôno
    • Tatsuya Nakadai
Top credits
  • Director
    • Akira Kurosawa
  • Writers
    • Akira Kurosawa(story)
    • Ryûzô Kikushima(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Toshirô Mifune
    • Eijirô Tôno
    • Tatsuya Nakadai
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 228User reviews
    • 137Critic reviews
    • 93Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #146
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:35
    Official Trailer
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    Clip 2:33
    What to Watch If You Love "The Mandalorian"

    Photos105

    Toshirô Mifune, Daisuke Katô, and Tatsuya Nakadai in Yojimbo (1961)
    Toshirô Mifune, Seizaburô Kawazu, and Isuzu Yamada in Yojimbo (1961)
    Toshirô Mifune in Yojimbo (1961)
    Toshirô Mifune and Isuzu Yamada in Yojimbo (1961)
    Toshirô Mifune and Atsushi Watanabe in Yojimbo (1961)
    Yojimbo (1961)
    Toshirô Mifune in Yojimbo (1961)
    Yôko Tsukasa in Yojimbo (1961)
    Yojimbo (1961)
    Toshirô Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Ikio Sawamura, and Yôko Tsukasa in Yojimbo (1961)
    Toshirô Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai in Yojimbo (1961)
    Toshirô Mifune in The Hidden Fortress (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Toshirô Mifune
    Toshirô Mifune
    • Sanjuro Kuwabatakeas Sanjuro Kuwabatake…
    Eijirô Tôno
    Eijirô Tôno
    • Gonji - Tavern Keeperas Gonji - Tavern Keeper
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Unosuke - Gunfighteras Unosuke - Gunfighter
    Yôko Tsukasa
    Yôko Tsukasa
    • Nuias Nui
    Isuzu Yamada
    Isuzu Yamada
    • Orinas Orin
    Daisuke Katô
    Daisuke Katô
    • Inokichi - Ushitora's Rotund Brotheras Inokichi - Ushitora's Rotund Brother
    Seizaburô Kawazu
    Seizaburô Kawazu
    • Seibê - Brothel Operatoras Seibê - Brothel Operator
    Takashi Shimura
    Takashi Shimura
    • Tokuemon - Sake Breweras Tokuemon - Sake Brewer
    Hiroshi Tachikawa
    • Yoichiroas Yoichiro
    Yôsuke Natsuki
    Yôsuke Natsuki
    • Kohei's Sonas Kohei's Son
    Kamatari Fujiwara
    Kamatari Fujiwara
    • Tazaemonas Tazaemon
    Ikio Sawamura
    Ikio Sawamura
    • Hansukeas Hansuke
    Atsushi Watanabe
    • The Cooper - Coffin-Makeras The Cooper - Coffin-Maker
    Susumu Fujita
    • Homma - Instructor Who Skips Townas Homma - Instructor Who Skips Town
    Kyû Sazanka
    Kyû Sazanka
    • Ushitoraas Ushitora
    Kô Nishimura
    Kô Nishimura
    • Kumaas Kuma
    Takeshi Katô
    Takeshi Katô
    • Ronin Kobuhachias Ronin Kobuhachi
    Ichirô Nakatani
    Ichirô Nakatani
    • First Samuraias First Samurai
    • Director
      • Akira Kurosawa
    • Writers
      • Akira Kurosawa(story) (screenplay)
      • Ryûzô Kikushima(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Akira Kurosawa challenged his assistant directors to come up with an image for the film to let Sanjuro know he was entering a bad town. He shot down all of their ideas, since all of them had already been done. Kurosawa himself then came up with the idea of the dog carrying the human hand.
    • Goofs
      In the initial fight scene, The Samurai cuts the first two adversaries in the mid-section, then slices the last man's arm off. That last man is first seen from behind holding the sword in his right arm above his head, but the arm holding the sword shown moments later is a left arm.
    • Quotes

      Sanjuro: I'll get paid for killing, and this town is full of people who deserve to die.

    • Alternate versions
      The initial US release ran only 75 minutes, 35 minutes shorter than the original version at 110 minutes.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 62nd Annual Academy Awards (1990)

    User reviews228

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Kurosawa.
    Only a handful of directors know atmosphere the way Akira Kurosawa does, only a handful. Yojinbo opens with a tracking shot of a ronin samurai walking down a dusty road. The camera wisely stays behind the samurai, played by Toshiro Mifune, so we cannot see his face or expressions. This samurai is desperate. Mifune has no master and no money. Kurosawa doesn't let you see his desperation, instead focusing on the back of his head and his profile to set up one of the most memorable characters in cinema history. The film has been copied many times, its practically the most influential film of the modern action genre. Yojinbo isn't action packed however, Kurosawa takes his time setting up characters and plot. The fact that this masterless samurai has deep compassion for strangers is different than most modern action movies alone. Toshiro Mifune is magical in the lead role. His presence is felt all throughout the film even when he isn't on camera. All film buffs should watch this film, it is a perfect example of a director and actor with confidence in their craft.
    helpful•160
    14
    • Peach-2
    • Sep 26, 1999

    FAQ3

    • Is 'Yojimbo' based on a book?
    • Who did the man with the prayer drums kill?
    • Any recommendations for movies similar to "Yojimbo"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 13, 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Yojimbo the Bodyguard
    • Filming locations
      • Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Kurosawa Production Co.
      • Sammy
      • Toho Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $46,808
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $15,942
      • Jul 28, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $46,808
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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