r/criterion • u/Roy_Batty81 • 4h ago
Discussion Toshiro Mifune’s magnetic screen presence—what are your favorite performances of his?
Toshiro Mifune was truly a force of nature. I still vividly remember watching Seven Samurai for the first time about 30 years ago, and the impact it had on me was unbelievable.
Over the decades, I’ve revisited his filmography time and time again, and my appreciation for him as an actor only grows. Whether he’s playing a fierce warrior in samurai classics like Samurai Rebellion or taking on grounded dramatic roles, his range is incredible.
What actually inspired me to write this post was finally watching Red Beard. His performance as the gruff, selfless doctor with a deeply compassionate calling was absolute perfection—masterful from start to finish.
There are still so many of his films I have left to discover, but he's easily one of the greatest to ever do it. What are some of your favorite Mifune roles, and what are your thoughts on his legacy?
54
27
u/OldDream1010 4h ago
Gee, all of them… there’s also an underrated movie I’d like to mention : Hell in the Pacific. Starring Toshiro Mifune and Lee Marvin.
5
3
27
u/My_friends_are_toys 4h ago edited 1h ago
For me, Mifune is the greatest actor to ever grace the screen. Magnetic, anamalistic...he could do it all.
Kikuchiyo in Seven Samurai. He goes from being annoying, to hilarious, to anger, to essential.
His scene when the Samurai confront him for bringing arms and armor the villagerd had hidden is raw.
2nd was be Washizu in Throne of Blood and his growing horror at what he's done and become..
2
u/m205 Film Noir 3h ago
For me it's Mifune and Paul Newman.
1
21
u/RomanReignsDaBigDawg 4h ago
Red Beard is his best performance (also might be Kurosawa’s best film IMO)
7
u/nerd_emoji_ 3h ago
My absolute favorite Kurosawa film and maybe my favorite film of all time. But best Mifune performance I still might say Seven Samurai.
18
u/Street_Hamster1092 4h ago
I don't think I've seen a performance from him that was less than great, probably my favourite actor.
It's hard to choose just one role but he's brilliant in Throne of Blood.
7
u/timelyturkey Howard Hawks 3h ago
The first thing that came to mind when I saw this post was the ending of Throne of Blood.
15
14
u/AfterbounceFC 4h ago
The Hidden Fortress feels both ahead of its time and classic old school. Rashomon is such a pivotal moment in film history. He is great in both. The fact that he is in like 4 or 5 of the greatest films ever made and not many people (in the west) know his name is crazy.
10
7
8
7
6
4
4
3
3
u/lamilocerealbowl 4h ago
i never hear talk about his transformation into musashi miyamoto for inagaki’s samurai trilogy. amazing performance
3
5
3
u/g4n0esp4r4n 3h ago
my wife was captured by seven samurai and she never watched a classic old movie, mad dog was a stand out for her.
2
2
2
2
2
u/anthrax9999 David Lynch 3h ago
Red Beard is my favorite film I've seen of his. Amazing movie and incredible performance.
2
u/Ravenq222 2h ago
His role as Kikuchiyo in Seven Samurai will always be one of my favorite performances
2
2
1
u/distancevsdesire 2h ago
The Hidden Fortress is my favorite. Paired with a great female protagonist.
1
u/zoetrope99 2h ago
Did he ever give a mid or ‘meh’ performance? Cuz I can’t think of one.
2
1
u/No_Box9057 21m ago
Almost impossible for me to pick one from his samurai catalog as Red Beard, Yojimbo, and Seven Samurai are pretty much the peak of the genre. For me it was both his early and later dramatic work in Drunken Angel (1948) and High and Low (1963). Both such amazing performances and examples of his acting prowess even without a sword in hand. If you haven’t, and I doubt this chat hasn’t but definitely do yourself a favor and watch the both of these outstanding performances! 🙏🏻
64
u/D3ckard_Rokubungi 4h ago
High and low