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Yojimbo Details

1961 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 8819 members

In director Akira Kurosawa's comedic YOJIMBO, a masterless samurai, Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), wanders into a town divided by two warring clans. After displaying his formidable swordsmanship before both clans in a brawl with street thugs, Sanjuro offers his services to the highest bidder. When one clan conspires against him, the .. Read more

Starring Toshiro Mifune, Eijiro Tono, Seisaburo Kawazu, Isuzu Yamada
Director Akira Kurosawa
Genres Action/Adventure, Thriller, World Cinema

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Yojimbo

In director Akira Kurosawa's comedic YOJIMBO, a masterless samurai, Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), wanders into a town divided by two warring clans. After displaying his formidable swordsmanship before both clans in a brawl with street thugs, Sanjuro offers his services to the highest bidder. When one clan conspires against him, the clever warrior switches his allegiance to the other side, with the ultimate goal of tricking the two equally despicable and foolish clans into exterminating each other. Sanjuro's authority is challenged, however, when Unosuke (Tatsuya Nakadai), a brother of one of the leaders, comes to town wielding a modern contraption: a gun. In the classic final showdown, the old world samurai is pitted against new world progress, and must use both his wits and physical prowess to survive.
Perhaps Kurosawa's most overtly comic film, YOJIMBO easily ranks with the director's finest work. In this reconception of the Western, Mifune plays Sanjuro, the tough mercenary of few words, to perfection, often allowing his subtle movements and swift actions speak for him. Throughout the entire film, Sanjuro is vigilant yet stoic, conceding that he finds the scenario entertaining and absurd, and essentially has nothing to lose. Mifune's outstanding performance, combined with Kurosawa's expert direction and Kazuo Miyagawa's beautifully balanced photography, makes for one of the finest, and funniest, films in Japanese cinema.

Starring Toshiro Mifune, Eijiro Tono, Seisaburo Kawazu, Isuzu Yamada
Director Akira Kurosawa
Studio BFI VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 45 mins
Certificate Certificate PG
Genres Action/Adventure, Thriller, World Cinema
Language DVD: Japanese
Subtitles DVD: English
Released DVD: 06 Nov 2000
Production year: 1961
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (2) of Yojimbo

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  • 5 stars out of 5

    Such was the influence of the Hollywood western on Akira Kurosawa's superb samurai action adventure that it seems only fair that it, in turn, inspired Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars, the film that launched the Italian “spaghetti” western. Combining moments of comedy, intrigue and sudden, shocking violence, Kurosawa manages to celebrate the samurai genre at the same time as he is subtly subverting it. Toshiro Mifune is tremendous as the wandering warrior who sells his sword skills to both sides in a feud-torn community only to dupe them both into mutual slaughter. He returned in the sequel, Sanjuro, the following year.

    • Radio Times
  • Far from being just another vehicle for Mifune, this belongs in that select group of films noirs which are also... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of Yojimbo

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  • 25 out of 30 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Bo! Jimbo Selecta!!!

    This is a fantastic movie and probably my favourite Kurosawa flick. I think Mifune is in his element when it comes to playing charismatic ronin.

    Theres also a great wood-blocky score to set the atmosphere.

    The narrative is lean and neat.

    I could watch this film hundreds of times.

    peace y'all. gonz

      • Gonzo Soul from The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge
  • Most recent members' review of Yojimbo

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  • 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Overrated

    I'd heard a lot about Yojimbo over the years, but now I've finally seen it I found it disappointing. The plot you probably know (see the other reviews) but much of it seems faintly ridiculous (the Bash Street Kids were more threatening than some of the henchmen in the rival gangs) and uninvolving. Maybe I'm missing something, but if you're new to Kurosawa start with Rashomon or Seven Samurai; if you start with Yojimbo you may wonder what all the fuss is about.

      • Paul Thompson from King's Lynn, Norfolk
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Rating breakdown

8,819 Member ratings
  • 100
1,608
  • 90
1,180
  • 80
1,938
  • 70
1,460
  • 60
1,062
  • 50
573
  • 40
321
  • 30
259
  • 20
284
  • 10
134

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    • In director Akira Kurosawa's comedic YOJIMBO, a masterless samurai, Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), wanders into a town divided by two warring clans. After displaying his formidable swordsmanship before ...