The Samurai Trilogy, directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, was one of Japan’s most successful exports of the 1950s, a rousing, emotionally gripping tale of combat and self-discovery. Based on a novel that’s often called Japan’s Gone with the Wind, this sweeping saga fictionalizes the life of the legendary seventeenth-century swordsman (and writer and artist) Musashi Miyamoto, following him on his path from unruly youth to enlightened warrior.
When talking about some of the best Jidaigeki-films of all time, Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai-trilogy is sure to always come up. In the role of the eponymous Musashi Miyamoto we see Toshiro Mifune once again honing his sword skills, and we follow him from his early years as an aspiring warrior, up to the moment he becomes a true samurai. The grainy Eastmancolor is a true favorite of mine and makes the cinematography truly come alive, and I can't help but think that this is what cinema always was supposed to look like. The story goes through some ups and downs during the trilogy but it starts out great and ends fantastic.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Biography
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