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Yojimbo (1961):
The incomparable Toshiro Mifune stars in Akira Kurosawa’s visually stunning and darkly comic Yojimbo. To rid a terror-stricken village of corruption, wily masterless samurai Sanjuro turns a range war between two evil clans to his own advantage. Remade twice, by Sergio Leone and Walter Hill, this exhilarating genre-twister remains one of the most influential and entertaining films of all time.
Sanjuro (1962):
Toshiro Mifune swaggers and snarls to brilliant comic effect in Akira Kurosawa’s tightly paced, beautifully composed Sanjuro. In this sly companion piece to Yojimbo, jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan’s evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a “proper” samurai on its ear. Less brazen in tone than its predecessor but equally entertaining, this classic character’s return is a masterpiece in its own right.
Extras:
Newly restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
Newly recorded interview with Jasper Sharp (2024)
Audio commentary on Yojimbo by film critic Philip Kemp
Introduction to Sanjuro by filmmaker Alex Cox (2003, 5 mins)
Interview with filmmaker Alex Cox (2003, 9 mins)
Original trailers for both films
**FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet featuring new and archival essays on both films, original reviews and full film credits
Other extras TBC
Akira Kurosawa