Drunken Angel (1948) by Akira Kurosawa

[cranefly]

Takashi Shimura plays a scraggly alcoholic doctor in post-war Japan who conceals a caring attitude beneath a cold, cynical exterior.  While treating a young Yakusa toughie (Mifune), he suspects the man's cough is early stage TB and encourages him to get tested, seek treatment, and change his ways.

This is Kurosawa's first use of Mifune.  It's a brilliantly filmed battle of wits and wills between two very flawed people, and it has an unforgettably chilling finale.

Notes:

After watching this, I checked the wikipedia page.  This was filmed during the American occupation, and American overseers were ever blocking Kurosawa from showing any signs of the occupation or anything negative about the aftermath of the war.  Still, he managed to sneak in several things.

I noticed by chance that Shimura throws objects left-handed in this film.  Does that mean he's a lefty in Seven Samurai?  Are lefties even allowed among Samurai?  Inquiring minds want to know.

BTW, I was intending to watch Kurosawa's The Quiet Duel (1949), but discovered that it's not on Criterion.  What the hey?  So I watched Drunken Angel instead, and am glad I did.  It's essential Kurosawa.

[Drunk Monk]

Does that mean he's a lefty in Seven Samurai?  Are lefties even allowed among Samurai?  Inquiring minds want to know.

No. Lefties are disdained in Japanese culture. After my Japanese grandfather had his right hand crippled during WWII, he switched to lefty so quickly that everyone thought he was probably born that way and then forced to use his right because it was common practice for his generation. He remained a crack shot and very able despite his disfigurement.  

And you're spot on about this film.  It is essential Kurosawa.  The way he shot the play of emotions across Mifune's & Shimura's faces in this is perfection.  I haven't seen it in many years and now I think I should revisit it.