The Mighty Warriors Who Became the Seven National Heroes of a Small Town|Apr. 26, 1954|Japan|207 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Action;Drama
Description: In 1587, a group of bandits plans to raid a mountain village but decides to wait until after the harvest since they had attacked it not long ago. A farmer overhears their conversation, and the villagers turn to Gisaku, their elder and miller, for guidance. Gisaku recalls a village that once hired samurai for protection and remained unharmed by raiders. He suggests they do the same. However, with no money to offer, the villagers can only provide food, so Gisaku advises them to seek out hungry samurai.
The villagers initially struggle to find help until they witness Kambei, an aging but skilled rōnin, rescue a boy held hostage by a thief. Impressed, they ask for his assistance, and after some hesitation, he agrees. Kambei recruits his old friend Shichirōji and, with the help of a young samurai named Katsushirō, gathers three more warriors: the clever Gorobei, the good-hearted Heihachi, and the silent swordsman Kyūzō. Katsushirō, though inexperienced, joins them due to time constraints. A man named Kikuchiyo, carrying a family scroll to claim his samurai status, persistently follows them despite attempts to send him away.
When the samurai arrive at the village, they find the residents hiding in fear and refusing to greet them. Feeling slighted, Kikuchiyo triggers the village alarm, forcing the villagers to come out and plead for protection. This amuses the samurai, and they accept Kikuchiyo as one of their own. Over time, trust grows between the samurai and the farmers as they prepare for the bandits’ attack. Katsushirō develops a bond with Shino, a farmer’s daughter disguised as a boy for safety.
The story unfolds as they train and unite to defend the village against the looming threat.
Cast director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast actor: Toshirō Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki, Daisuke Katō, Isao Kimura, Keiko Tsushima, Yukiko Shimazaki, Kamatari Fujiwara
Original name: 七人の侍