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Akira Kurosawa, the "Sensei Of Cinema", has probably had more influence on filmmaking than any director in the second half of the twentieth century. Many of today's best filmmakers claim him as a primary influence on their work. A short list of directors he has directly influenced are: George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Coppola, John Woo, Sergio Leone, John Sturges and Walter Hill. But there is nothing quite as refreshing as going back to the well. So go see a Kurosawa movie on video, or perhaps if you are lucky, in a local revival movie house.
This page is an attempt to catalog all of the good Kurosawa sites on the Web. I will try to be as comprehensive and up-to-date as I can, my schedule and time permitting.
On to the links, then!
An excellent site that covers Kurosawa's background and films.
A well-designed page that is profusely illustrated and has an extensive bio and filmography.
The British Film Institute tribute to Kurosawa.
The PBS companion website for their "Great Performances" episode on Kurosawa.
An illustrated essay on Kurosawa in "Senses Of Cinema" magazine.
An original illustrated analysis of Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress and Ran.
A personal analysis of several of the authors favorite Kurosawa movies from Sanshiro Sugata to Rhapsody In August.
Images Journal provides in-depth reviews of three Kurosawa movies that have been newly released on video: Stray Dog, The Lower Depths and The Bad Sleep Well.
Some nice images from Kurosawa's 1990 anthology film.
The official Akira Kurosawa fanlisting.
A tribute to Kurosawa written by the acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou.
An illustrated page with Kurosawa movie posters.
From the Internet Movie Database, there is a brief biography as well as a comprehensive filmography of the Master.
The Voyager Company has released many of Kurosawa's movies on laserdisc and DVD under their Criterion Collection banner.
Kurosawa on location for RAN (1985).
If you want more information about Kurosawa, the standard reference work is The Films of Akira Kurosawa, by Donald Richie. This fantastic book is profusely illustrated with black and white pictures and is quite enjoyable to read also. This latest edition covers all of Kurosawa's films up until his last, Madadayo.
A new look at the master is The Emperor and the Wolf : The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune, by Stuart Galbraith. I think the title is pretty self-explanatory for this book. If you are at all interested in the lives and films of these two men and their working relationship, this informative book is a must-buy..
For a different but just as insightful look at Kurosawa, try The Warrior's Camera : The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa, by Stephen Prince. This comprehensive work provides an in-depth look at the themes and influences displayed in Kurosawa's films.
If you want to learn more about Kurosawa's personal life and the influences that shaped his cinematic art, try his own Something Like an Autobiography (translated by Audie E. Bock).
Some other books of interest regarding Kurosawa are:
If you want to purchase some of Kurosawa's movies on VHS or DVD, please click on the logo below:
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