The Samurai Trilogy

Hiroshi Inagaki's three-part adaptation of Eiji Yoshikawa's epic novel debuted the same year as Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai and was one of the most popular cinematic exports of its time. Toshirô Mifune stars as Musashi Miyamoto, a real-life warrior who was elevated to the stature of almost mythic historical hero. In Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954), he's a brash and ambitious peasant who desires fame and power as a swordsman, but matures from hot-tempered outlaw to serious samurai. Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955) finds Miyamoto being targeted by the elders of a martial arts school while also earning himself an archenemy in an ambitious young man named Kojiro Sasaki (Koji Tsuruta). In Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956), Miyamoto appears to be the very model of confidence and humility as an honorable samurai master. Inagaki's somber trilogy is very different from the energetic action of Kurosawa's films: the sword fights and battles are more theatrical (staged in long takes that emphasize form and movement over action) and he utilizes color to increasingly dramatic effect. Mifune brings a sad, almost tragic quality to the role of Miyamoto, powerfully conveying the personal cost of the man's supreme skills. One of the best samurai drama series of the era, The Samurai Trilogy is being re-released on DVD and making its Blu-ray debut in handsomely remastered Criterion editions, with extras including new video interviews with translator William Scott Wilson, and a booklet. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)