Search - The Hidden Fortress [Criterion Collection] on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Violence, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1958 DVD Release: 05/22/2001 Format: DVD - Black and White,Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: Japanese Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 19 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 44 Genres: Adventure, Costume Adventure, Samurai Film See Also: Essential Art House: Hidden Fortress [Criterion Collection]

Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress (original Japanese title: Kakushi Toride No San Akunin) stars Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujiwara as a pair of misfit soldiers. Running from the enemy after a disastrous defeat, the two soldiers fall in with general Toshiro Mifune, who is in search of a huge cache of gold. Mifune is also desirous of freeing princess-in-exile Misa Uehara from the clutches of the evil victorious army. Several large and small battles ensue before Mifune can realize his goal. If the plot of Hidden Fortress sounds vaguely familiar to you, try this exercise: substitute two robots for Chiaki and Fujiwara, Mark Hamill for Mifune, and Carrie Fisher for Uehara. George Lucas himself admitted that Hidden Fortress was a principal inspiration for his Star Wars saga; stretching the point farther, both Hidden Fortress and Star Wars had their roots in John Ford's The Searchers. Originally released in a 137-minute form, The Hidden Fortress was sliced to ribbons by its American distributors, and years later received extensive restoration. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Toshiro Mifune - Gen. Rokurota Makabe
Misa Uehara - Lady Yukihime
Kamatari Fujiwara - Matashichi
Minoru Chiaki - Tahei
Susumu Fujita - Gen. Hyoe Tadokoro

Criterion continues their tradition of fine discs with the DVD of Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress. Other than a few forgettable moments that show the age of the film, the image quality is outstanding and far better than it has been outside of theaters. The movie is framed at the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and in a wise move, uses an anamorphic transfer. There isn't enough praise that can be given when a great job is done, as is the case here. The sound has both a mono soundtrack and a different mono track that is split over three channels (called "perspect-a-sound") to give it a stereo-sounding quality. The "stereo" track has far better range than the simple mono track, with a much more robust sound. Supplemental material on Criterion titles are either feast or famine, and unfortunately, it is the latter on this one. Other than a great theatrical trailer, there is an eight-minute discussion from George Lucas on what a great influence Kurosawa was, and how this film was a partial inspiration for his own Star Wars. At the least, a commentary track from a film historian, such as the one on =The Seven Samurai, really should have been prepared for this disc. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide