Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

1956 1h 45m JA

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 142

ActionAdventureDramaRomanceHistory

Synopsis

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A humble and simple Takezo abandons his life as a knight errant. He's sought as a teacher and vassal by Shogun, Japan's most powerful clan leader. He's also challenged to fight by the supremely confident and skillful Sasaki Kojiro. Takezo agrees to fight Kojiro in a year's time but rejects Shogun's patronage, choosing instead to live on the edge of a village, raising vegetables. He's followed there by Otsu and later by Akemi, both in love with him. The year ends as Takezo assists the villagers against a band of brigands. He seeks Otsu's forgiveness and accepts her love, then sets off across the water to Ganryu Island for his final contest.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Toshirō Mifune
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Koji Tsuruta
Kojiro Sasaki
Kaoru Yachigusa
Otsu
Mariko Okada
Akemi
Kurôemon Onoe
Takuan
Michiko Saga
Omitsu
Takashi Shimura
Court official
Minoru Chiaki
Sasuke the boatman

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
Writers: Hiroshi Inagaki, Tokuhei Wakao
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

70 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Samurai Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, shot by Kazuo Yamada. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ikuma Dan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Kôichi Iwashita shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Toshirō Mifune and Koji Tsuruta and Kaoru Yachigusa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0049710 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Hiroshi Inagaki directs. Kazuo Yamada behind the camera. Ikuma Dan scores. Kôichi Iwashita cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

170 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "Samurai Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, shot by Kazuo Yamada. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Ikuma Dan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Kôichi Iwashita shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Toshirō Mifune and Koji Tsuruta and Kaoru Yachigusa carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0049710 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 15 themes, including "samurai", "love triangle", "village", "katana".

The technical file

Cinematography: Kazuo Yamada
Original score: Ikuma Dan
Editing: Kôichi Iwashita
Production design: Kisaku Ito
Runtime: 105 min · 1h 45m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)

Part of

Samurai Collection

A historical adventure spanning three films, adapted from the novel Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. They follow the development of the famous author and warrior, Musashi Miyamoto.