Red Beard (1965)

In 19th-century Japan, a rough-tempered yet charitable town doctor trains a young intern.

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Masato Ide (screenplay), Hideo Oguni (screenplay)

Stars:

Toshirô Mifune, Yûzô Kayama, Tsutomu Yamazaki

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Toshirô Mifune	...	Dr. Kyojô Niide
Yûzô Kayama	...	Dr. Noboru Yasumoto
Tsutomu Yamazaki	...	Sahachi
Reiko Dan	...	Osugi
Miyuki Kuwano	...	Onaka
Kyôko Kagawa	...	Madwoman
Tatsuyoshi Ehara	...	Genzô Tsugawa
Terumi Niki	...	Otoyo
Akemi Negishi	...	Okuni, the mistress
Yoshitaka Zushi	...	Chôji
Yoshio Tsuchiya	...	Dr. Handayû Mori
Eijirô Tôno	...	Goheiji
Takashi Shimura	...	Tokubei Izumiya
Chishû Ryû	...	Mr. Yasumoto
Haruko Sugimura	...	Kin, the madam

Storyline

It's the early nineteenth century, and young Dr. Noboru Yasumoto has been summoned for a reason unknown to him to rural Koishikawa Medical Clinic from Nagasaki, where he has been stationed for three years completing his internship. The clinic, headed by the outwardly stern Dr. Kyojô Niide - nicknamed "Red Beard" for that attribute - under his very strict guidelines, treats the poor and disadvantaged of the region. Much to his surprise and dismay, Yasumoto is told he is to start work there immediately, staff, including doctors, living on site. As he was expecting a position as a physician for a shogunate in his privilege, Yasumoto shows his displeasure at this fate at every turn. He believes this fate was either orchestrated directly by Red Beard in solely wanting access to his detailed professional notes - Yasumoto believing he a much better doctor than his new, more experienced superior - or by the father of a female acquaintance in an effort to get rid of him. Yasumoto may get a ...

---

Plot Keywords:

clinic | intern | medical profession | character name as title | nickname as title | 

---

Taglines:

Shown in its entirety!

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Red Beard is the only Kurosawa film to contain any nudity.

---

Goofs

At the brothel where young Otoyo is being rescued: when Red Beard (Toshiro Mifune) prepares to step out of the brothel opening to confront the thugs gathered outside, from the inside camera view, right before he steps through the door flap, there are a couple of thugs standing just right outside the opening. But from the outside shot, which shows Red Beard stepping out, the nearby thugs have changed position, and are now standing much farther away from the opening.

---

Quotes

Heikichi: I began drinking when I was 9, and I've been drinking ever since. I can't say when I'm sober - but I know what I'm doing when I'm drunk.

---

Connections

Referenced in Disciples of Hippocrates (1980)

User Reviews

One of the Master's Masterpieces

Akahige / Red Beard is 3 hours, 5 minutes long, but I strongly recommend it. It shows a definite maturity of style over Samurai (54), Throne of Blood (57), Yojimbo (61), to which it manages to subtly refer. In between was the slow-but-intense Crime/Class drama High and Low (63). Red Beard takes AK's observed modern style back to the feudal setting. One should set aside 4 hours for it, though, as you may need the break and, if you're like me, you'll want to see certain scenes again. Long composed/blocked shots and a "small" story make it seem slow, but I've found it fascinating all three times--rich in detail, with AK's familiar ensemble doing their best acting yet.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

19 December 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Red Beard

Filming Locations:

Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,942, 28 July 2002

Gross USA:

$46,808

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$46,808

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kurosawa Production Co., Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

185 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1