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Hidden Fortress [1958] [DVD]
 
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Hidden Fortress [1958] [DVD]

DVD ~ Toshirô Mifune
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
RRP: £19.99
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Frequently Bought Together

Hidden Fortress [1958] [DVD] + Yojimbo [1961] [DVD] + Seven Samurai [1954] [DVD]
Total RRP: £59.97
Price For All Three: £37.44

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Hidden Fortress [1958] [DVD]
63% buy the item featured on this page:
Hidden Fortress [1958] [DVD] 4.2 out of 5 stars (6)
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Seven Samurai [1954] [DVD]
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Product details

  • Actors: Toshirô Mifune, Misa Uehara, Minoru Chiaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Takashi Shimura
  • Directors: Akira Kurosawa
  • Writers: Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Ryuzo Kikushima, Shinobu Hashimoto
  • Producers: Akira Kurosawa, Sanezumi Fujimoto
  • Format: Anamorphic, Black & White, PAL, Widescreen
  • Language Japanese
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Bfi Video
  • DVD Release Date: 25 Mar 2002
  • Run Time: 138 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000060NZA
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 17,370 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
In one of the many classic collaborations between director Akira Kurosawa and his leading man Toshirô Mifune, this 1958 film tells the story of a warrior and a princess trying against all odds to return to their homeland with their fortune. Along the way, they are simultaneously assisted and thwarted by two itinerant and not-too-bright farmers with their own designs on the treasure, giving the story a subtle comic bent. Acknowledged by George Lucas as the inspiration for Star Wars (note the similarities, especially the comic duo who are the models for R2D2 and C3PO), Hidden Fortress combines an epic tale of struggle and honour with modern comic sensibilities, creating a masterful addition to world cinema. --Robert Lane, Amazon.com

Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Japanese
Region 2
Interview With George Lucas About Akira Kurosawa
English


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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful example of Kurosawa and Mifune, truly a delight., 27 Jul 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Hidden Fortress [VHS] [1958] (VHS Tape)
Hidden Fortress is an outstanding example of Akira Kurosawa's film-making style, clear and simple. Although not as well known as the classics 'Seven Samurai' or 'Yojimbo', this film deserves to be rated among his finest. The narrative is both quick and engaging never allowing your attention to wander. This was Kurosawa's first widescreen film and he seems to revel in the new width of his canvas, without over indulging in the space. The performances are excellent with Toshiro Mifune in one of his finest roles, the two bickering slaves are wonderful. This film was in fact the inspiration for Star Wars and these two slaves are easily recognisable as the droids from George Lucas' Sci-Fi tale. I would recommend this film to any fan of Mifune's or Kurosawa's work as they are at their best in this picture. If you not aware of either of this pairing, do not allow that to put you off. Buy it, sit back and enjoy what is a delightful adventure that will hold you from beginning to end.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Original Star Wars, 21 Dec 2004
Having watched many of Kurosawa's films, I was interested in Hidden Fortress, because I had heard that George Lucus borrowed its plot for the original Star Wars film.
I bought the film hastily, but have not regretted it at all.
It is a little light-hearted than his other films such as Rashomon and Seven Samurai, but this makes it all the more enjoyable, as does the fact that is hard to see where the film is going to lead you.
The 2.35:1 effect works brill on a widescreen TV, capturing Mount Fuji in all its glory.
As with many Kurosawa films, Toshiro Mifune is a central character, but its the two peasants that steal the show.
Buy it, watch it, and see for yourself what made George Lucus make Star Wars.
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70 of 89 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Best-kept secret: Japanese original of first Star Wars, 5 Feb 2002
By hendecad@indigo.ie (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews
From its opening battle scenes with two lucky buffoons escaping certain death, through the Princess-who-must-be-saved-at-all-costs and the strange other-reality of a tavern on the road to redemption, the entire opus of the original Stars Wars episode is here to be seen in its archaic japanese form. For those of you who think that Seven Samurai ripped off The Magnificent Seven, or Yojimbo, A Fistful of Dollars--here is proof of Jap perfidiousness. For all the rest of us--is there any memorable fantasy film from Hollywood that didn't rip off the Japanese master, Kurosawa? Now you know why Lucas and Spielberg financed Ran and Kagemusha: abject shame.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Forms the basis of much that is in Starwars
I watched this directly after watching Kurosawa's much later `Ran' (1985). What a difference! The tone of `The Hidden Fortress' (1958) is much more light-hearted than any other... Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2007 by Greshon

3.0 out of 5 stars The Good, the Bad and the Mediocre sides of Kurosawa

The Hidden Fortress has some major problems with pacing and overlength. The first 15 minutes dealing with the aftermath of a war are great and the last... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2006 by Trevor Willsmer

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant comic masterpiece
One of the funniest films I have ever seen -an absolute delight from start to finish, and which influenced George Lucas' StarWars. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2004 by superkurosawafan

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