Seven Samurai (1954) – Film Review

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima
Certificate: PG

By Sarah Morgan

Are classic movies ever as good as critics claim them to be? I must admit that over the years, I’ve been slightly put off viewing some of the so-called greats, believing they cannot possibly be as amazing as their reputations suggest.

For that reason, I waited an inordinately long time to watch Citizen Kane, then realised I was an idiot because it really is the masterpiece everyone suggests. The same can be said of Seven Samurai.

“Tension-filled”

As such films rarely make it onto TV these days, many people will know of it purely because it’s the film that inspired John Sturges’ classic Western The Magnificent Seven. And that’s a shame, because while they do share certain traits, they are, on the whole, very different beasts.

During the 1950s, director Akira Kurosawa was in, to put it mildly, a purple patch, releasing Rashomon and Ikiru before Seven Samurai, eventually following it with Throne of Blood and Yojimbo, among others.

This was clearly a man at the peak of his powers, with Seven Samurai standing out thanks to its tension-filled, exciting storyline, fine performances and flawless camerawork (some of the set pieces and shots are simply breathtaking); the film may run for a whopping 207 minutes, but it’s so utterly gripping, it seems to whip by.

The plot is relatively simple – but isn’t that the case for all great tales? A group of poor farmers, at their wit’s end after years of having their village raided by ruthless bandits, hire a band of Samurai to help them defend their homes, crops and womenfolk.

The motley band, once assembled, go about their task with ruthless efficiency, although the fight isn’t without its shocks and disappointments.

“Charismatic”

The cast is headed by two actors who will be instantly recognisable to anyone familiar with Kurosawa’s work – Takashi Shimura and Toshirô Mifune. Both men worked with the auteur many times, and are on typically charismatic form here. Shimura plays the clever and kindly Samurai leader, with Mifune as the wild, untamed Kikuchiyo, who passes himself off as a member of the warrior creed because he has a personal score to settle.

As is usually the case with a BFI release, there’s a wealth of additional material to enjoy, including archive interviews, documentaries and audio commentaries, as well as an 80-page booklet featuring a collection of new essays.

But while some special features can be more interesting than the films they’re meant to promote, that’s not the case here. Seven Samurai is a bona fide masterpiece, and thanks to a new 4K restoration, it must look as good, if not better, than it did on its big screen release 70 years ago.