I didn’t realise there was a sequel to Yojimbo, which reunites director Akira Kurosawa with actor Toshiro Mifune as the wandering hero. So I was in the mood for the 90 minute samurai movie, Sanjuro (1962; Tsubaki Sanjūrō) where Mifune’s character gets mixed up with helping nine younger samurai trying to release their uncle from corrupt officials. The great running joke in the visuals is how the nine are presented in order and synchronicity while Mifune is framed in the foreground/background, laying back and/or rubbing his chest or beard, looking off kilter but knowing what to do better than his young charges. Funnier than I expected with quick bursts of action amongst all the plotting. Bonus points for camellias being so essential to the attack plan in an action movie. Mifune, of course, is great. Recommended
VHS Tracking 