IN THE 1600s, IT WAS A DANGEROUS PLACE. IT WAS THE SENGOKU
ERA WHEN THE ONCE-POWERFUL SAMURAI WERE COMING TO THE END OF THEIR DAYS. THESE MEN HAD BEEN IN THE SERVICE OF WEALTHY OR ROYAL MASTERS AND THAT FASHION WAS OVER. MASTERLESS SAMURAI ARE CALLED RONIN. A SMALL VILLAGE IS BEING REGULARLY PILLAGED BY MURDEROUS THIEVES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. ALONG COMES KAMBEI, LEADER OF SAMURAI, PLAYED BY TAKASHI SHIMURA, A VETERAN WARRIOR WHO DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR A GOOD MEAL IN HIS OBI. WHEN THE VILLAGERS APPEAL TO HIM FOR HELP, KAMBEI GATHERS UP SIX MORE MEN AND THEY PROCEED TO TEACH THE TOWNSPEOPLE HOW TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. EACH OF THE SAMURAI IS QUICKLY LIMNED SO WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DO, AND WHATEVER PERSONAL QUIRKS THEY MAY HAVE. THE VILLAGERS WELCOME THE WARRIORS AND SOME RELATIONSHIPS BEGIN. KATSUSHIRO, A YOUNG SAMURAI PLAYED BY KO ISAO KIMURA, FALLS IN LOVE WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL WOMEN, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER FIGHTERS KEEP THEIR DISTANCE FROM THE FARMERS AS THOUGH THEY WERE BARRED FROM FRATERNIZATION WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS. IN RETURN FOR THREE SMALL MEALS DAILY, THE TOWN IS DRILLED ON HOW TO FIGHT BACK, BUT BOTH GROUPS ARE BATTLING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. THE TOWNSPEOPLE ARE DESPERATE TO KEEP THEIR LIVES AND PROPERTY INTACT AND THE WARRIORS ARE IN IT FOR HONOR ALONE. THE LAST OF THE SAMURAI IS KI KUCHIYO, WOULD-BE SAMURAI PLAYED BY TOSHIRO MIFUNE, A LOUD MOUTH WHO PRETENDS THAT HE IS QUALIFIED BUT IS, IN REALITY, A FARMER'S SON WHO WOULD HOPE TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE OTHERS. THE BANDITS ARRIVE, THERE IS A HUGE BATTLE THAT IS SO VIOLENT IT JARS THE EYES, AND, IN THE END, THE VILLAINS ARE DEFEATED, BUT ONLY A TRIO OF WARRIORS MANAGE TO LIVE. THEY LOOK DOWN AT THE GRAVE OF THEIR LATE COMRADES AS THE PEOPLE IN THE TOWN START PLANTING RICE FOR THE NEXT SEASON. THE TRUE NATURE OF THE PEASANTS IS REVEALED AS GREEDY, SELFISH, AND GRASPING PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIE, CHEAT AND PRETEND TO BE POOR AND OPPRESSED BUT WHO ARE, IN FACT, VICIOUS, CUNNING & UNTRUSTWORTHY. HISTORICAL/DRAMA
YOSHIO INABA AS GOROBEI, WISE WARRIOR
SEIJI MIYAGUCHI AS KYUZO, SWORDSMAN
MINORU CHIAKI AS HEIHACHI, GOOD-NATURED SAMURAI
DAISUKE KATO AS SCHICHIROGI, KAMBEI'S FRIEND
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