TOSHIRŌ MIFUNE

隠し砦の三悪人 / THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (dir. Akira Kurosawa, 1958)

Toshiro Mifune in a scene photo of the Japanese yakuza film Drunken Angel (1948)  

Drunken Angel ‘ 酔いどれ天使’ 1948  Directed by Akira Kurosawa

“Otherwise, why the tattoos, the tough talk and the strutting around?
Because you can’t trust yourselves.”

TOSHIRŌ MIFUNE
in Drunken Angel (1948) dir. Akira Kurosawa

Toshiro Mifune in “Drunken Angel” (1948)

“With the appearance of Toshiro Mifune as the gangster, this was the first picture in which my original idea was totally turned upside down. Shimura’s portrayal of the doctor was excellent, but I just couldn’t restrain the overpowering force of Mifune’s performance. Naturally, as the title indicates, the doctor was supposed to be the film’s hero. But what a shame it would have been to stifle Mifune’s vitality. He reacts so swiftly to direction, you know: if I say one thing to him, he understands ten. I decided to turn him loose.”

- Akira Kurosawa on filming Drunken Angel (1948)

We all have fears, we’re human. But you’re too ashamed to admit it. And you confuse that with courage. I’d say you’re all the worst kind of cowards.
Drunken Angel (Yoidore tenshi,1948) dir. Akira Kurosawa