Stray Dog
1949
The setting for this Akira Kurosawa film noir is Tokyo in the late 1940s, its streets blasted by war and its economy in collapse. When Murakami, a young detective (Toshiro Mifune, in one of his earliest roles), loses his gun to a thief, he must descend into a hell teeming with shady characters to retrieve it. Soon Murakami's .. Read more
| Starring | Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Awaji, Isao Kimura |
|---|---|
| Director | Akira Kurosawa |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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Stray Dog
The setting for this Akira Kurosawa film noir is Tokyo in the late 1940s, its streets blasted by war and its economy in collapse. When Murakami, a young detective (Toshiro Mifune, in one of his earliest roles), loses his gun to a thief, he must descend into a hell teeming with shady characters to retrieve it. Soon Murakami's pistol turns up as the weapon in the murder of a woman, leading the guilt-ridden rookie to seek help from his senior officer, Sato (Takashi Shimura). Together Murakami and Sato must hunt down the killer before he strikes again.
| Starring | Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Awaji, Isao Kimura |
|---|---|
| Director | Akira Kurosawa |
| Studio | BFI VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 57 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Japanese |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 25 Mar 2002 Production year: 1949 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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As is often the case with Akira Kurosawa, this is a film in which a quest results in self-discovery. Here, rookie detective Toshiro Mifune has his pistol stolen on a crowded bus and begins painstakingly tracking down the culprit as the gun is used in a series of crimes. Kurosawa gives the action an authentic feel by shooting in the more rundown areas of Tokyo, emphasising the sticky summer heat and Mifune's sense of self-loathing. But he is also at pains to convey the essential goodness of ordinary people and the beauty of the world. Inspired by actual events, this is a minor but compelling work.
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An early encounter between Kurosawa and two of his favourite actors, Mifune and Shimura, both playing detectives in... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Oddly compelling.
Oddly compelling because the subject seems so contrived, but the Japanese are good at making contrived stories work. This has a less assured feel to it than the later Kurasawa flicks that I have seen, but this seems to add to its charm. A great film as well as a Great film.
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Most recent members' review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Unusual, neglected Kurosawa
Set in post-war Japan, Kurosawa's first important film is a tight crime drama. Mifune plays a rookie homicide cop stricken by guilt after a gun he foolishly allows to be stolen by a pickpocket is used to commit an increasingly grave series of crimes.
Fascinating picture of a an impoverished Japan trying to rebuild its buildings, its culture and its moral sense after the disasters of defeat. The contemporary setting isn't typical Kurosawa, but the key moral dilemmas are examined with his usual precision. -
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