Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
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| Musashi Miyamoto | |
|---|---|
 The cover of the Criterion Collection DVD. |
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| Directed by | Hiroshi Inagaki |
| Produced by | Kazuo Takimura |
| Written by | Hideji Hojo (play) Hiroshi Inagaki Tokuhei Wakao Eiji Yoshikawa (novel |
| Starring | Toshirô Mifune, Rentaro Mikuni |
| Music by | Ikuma Dan |
| Distributed by | Toho Studios |
| Release date(s) |  26 September 1954 18 November 1955 |
| Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Followed by | Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Miyamoto Musashi (released in the United States as Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto) is a 1954 film by Hiroshi Inagaki starring Toshirô Mifune. It is the first film of Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy. The film is adapted from Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi. The novel is in turn based on the life of the famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.
The other two films in the trilogy are Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple and Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island.
[edit] Plot
Following the Battle of Sekigahara, Takezo (Mifune) and his friend Matahachi (Rentaro Mikuni) find themselves on the losing side. Instead of the grand victory and glory Musashi had anticipated, he finds himself a hunted fugitive. The pair seek shelter with a widow and her daughter. Both women attempt to seduce Takezo but are rejected. The widow then tells Matahachi that Takezo tried to assault her and convinces him to escort her and her daughter to Kyoto. Matahachi agrees even though he loves (and is betrothed to) Otsu (Kaoru Yachigusa), a woman from his village.
Takezo returns to his village to tell Matahachi's family that he is still alive. Matahachi's mother doesn't believe him and he is arrested for treason. There is a village wide search for Takezo, organized by the lord. Even after using his relatives as bait, the villagers cannot catch Takezo.
Takezo is finally captured by the Buddhist priest Takuan Sōhō, who tells the lord that he must be allowed to use his methods to control him. The priest believes that he can straighten him out, but Takezo escapes with Otsu's help. Takezo is then captured again by the priest after finding out that Otsu has been taken to Himeji Castle. He is tricked and locked in a room in the castle for three years.
The end of the film shows Takezo being granted his samurai name 'Musashi Miyamoto.' He then leaves to search for enlightenment, leaving two messages for Otsu: "Soon I will be back" and "Forgive me."
[edit] Historical background
The film begins in the year 1600 with Ieyasu Tokugawa's victory in the Battle of Sekigahara. The historical Miyamoto Musashi is believed to have fought in this battle.
[edit] External links
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| Preceded by Gate of Hell |
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film 1955 (Honorary Award before creation of official award) |
Succeeded by La strada |
