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Sanjuro (Tsubaki Sanj�r�) (1962)

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Average Rating: 8.4/10
Reviews Counted: 15
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 4.2/5
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Movie Info

Set in the mid-19th century when the disintegration of a rigid social structure was turning the once wealthy into paupers, or vice-versa, this kinetic drama by acclaimed Akira Kurosawa features the hero Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), one of many samurai whose once traditional positions were fast disappearing. In this tale of false perceptions and truth, of honor and dishonor, Sanjuro is a character who captures and holds attention from the moment he appears on screen. When he arrives in a small city,

PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.

Art House & International, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Akira Kurosawa

Written By: Ryuzo Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1962 Wide

On DVD: Sep 28, 1999

Cast

Toshiro Mifune
Sanjuro Tsubaki
Yuzo Kayama
Ioti Izaka
Tatsuya Nakadai
Hanbei Muroto
Keiju Kobayashi
Spy
Reiko Dan
Chidori Mutsuta's daugh...
Takashi Shimura
Kurofuji
Kamatari Fujiwara
Takebayashi
Akihiko Hirata
Samurai
Takako Irie
Mutsuta's wife
Yunosuke Ito
Mutsuta the Chamberlain
Akira Kubo
Young Samurai
Masao Shimizu
Kukui
Yoshio Tsuchiya
Samurai
Hiroshi Tachikawa
Samurai
Kunie Tanaka
Samurai
Tatsuyoshi Ebara

Critic Reviews for Sanjuro (Tsubaki Sanj�r�)

All Critics (18) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (0) | DVD (13)

A surprising, fetching, beautifully made film that fitly propounds the lesson of his own professionalism: 'Never send a boy to do a man's work.'

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

The relative linearity of the film can't help but come as something of a disappointment after the feast of Yojimbo.

April 20, 2011 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Rob Humanick

Slant Magazine

Rather than simply repeating the successful formula of Yojimbo, which incorporated humor but largely played it straight, Sanjuro flips the script for a largely comic action picture punctuated by a dark, rug-yanking conclusion. [Blu-ray]

March 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews

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Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

"You tired of being stupid yet?" Sanjuro's insult is praise: He loves you, too.

March 23, 2010 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

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Rob Humanick

Slant Magazine

a textbook on widescreen composition.

May 28, 2009 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

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Paul Brenner

Filmcritic.com

For escapist fare, this ranks highly

February 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews

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John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews Source: Old School Reviews

Mifune's smashing performance is the force that makes it all work so well.

July 23, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Mifune's disheveled samurai is an almost cartoonlike send-up of the established samurai image.

October 1, 2003 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle

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Austin Chronicle

One of Kurosawa's lesser works, but still well worth a rental.

June 11, 2003 Comment

Alex Sandell

Juicy Cerebellum

The follow-up to YOJIMBO is just as sharp, funny, and exciting. The only bad thing about it is that it was the only sequel.

March 21, 2003 Comment

Brian Mckay

eFilmCritic.com

A step down from the superior Yojimbo, but still enjoyable thanks to Toshiro Mifune's scruffy rogue.

November 1, 2002 Comment

Rob Vaux

Flipside Movie Emporium

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Audience Reviews for Sanjuro (Tsubaki Sanj�r�)

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Sunjuro is not as good as Yojimbo but it's pretty close. Toshiro Mifune plays it with a little more sensitivity but is just as cool a character. I though visually it was a much tidier film too, the scene with the flowers floating down the stream was very beautiful. The addition of comedy doesn't always work but for the

March 28, 2011

Anthony Lawrie

Super Reviewer

Toshiro Mifune's wayward samurai returns to help out in the kidnapping of a statesman by a corrupt official intent on discrediting him to cover up his own crimes. Sanjuro was made hot on the heels of Yojimbo, and is obvious proof that a studio trying to cash in on the commercial success of a film by throwing together a

June 5, 2007

xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

Sanjuro (Tsubaki Sanj�r�) Quotes

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1. Sanjuro Tsubaki: You tired of being stupid yet?
– Submitted by Garrett C (4 months ago)
1. Sanjuro Tsubaki: You cut well. But good swords are kept in their sheaths.
– Submitted by Alexandar T (7 months ago)