Rashomon Movie Review 1951

In 12th century Japan, two travelers attempt to discover the truth about an ambush/rape/murder. They get four completely different versions of the incident from the three people involved in the crime and the single witness. An insightful masterpiece that established Kurosawa and Japanese cinema as major artistic forces. Fine performances, particularly Mifune as the bandit. Visually beautiful and rhythmic. Remade as a western, "The Outrage," in 1964. In Japanese with English subtitles.

Distribution

New Line Home Video, 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, Phone: (310)854-5811, Fax: (310)854-1824, URL: http://www.newline.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 83 minutes.
Originally from Japanese.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Samurai, Rape, Japan, Medieval Romps, Director/Star Teams: Kurosawa & Mifune, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto

Cast

Machiko Kyo, Toshiro Mifune, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura, Minoru Chiaki, Kichijiro Ueda, Daisuke Kato

Cinematography

Kazuo Miyagawa

Director

Akira Kurosawa

Music

Fumio Hayasaka

Producer

Daiei

Awards

Oscars 1951: Foreign Film; Natl. Bd. of Review 1951: Director (Kurosawa); Venice Film Fest. 1951: Film.