I am not complaining about Toshirô Mifune. He is always great. But I have a feeling Shimura would have been perfect for the role of red beard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We're talking about unchecked aggression here, dude."
Interesting observation alpha 1976. Stephen Prince made a similar comment on the Criterion DVD's commentary track. I could see Shimura doing that role in the early 50's but do you think he still had the vitality to pull it off in 1965? We'll never know.
"Ryu-san, you don't quite look your character's age."
I think he could have. I am sure it would have been pretty hard for him had it been some samurai-kind of role. Here we are talking about a doctor. I am sure it would have been even more effective. I repeat no offence meant to Toshirô Mifune; he did a great job.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We're talking about unchecked aggression here, dude."
www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=6221274
I recently made a similar comment in my review of I Live In Fear.
The fact is, Shimura was a greater actor. But it can't be denied that Mifune had greater screen presence (not to mention box office power).
i've thought about this off and on. And even though I like Shimura a great deal, I think Mifune was better for this role. The reason as someone alluded to is Mifunes imposing presence. He looks so impressive, dominant, rigid, and wild that it forces the viewer to confront the combination of humanitarianism and toughness. The film also has some moments that could have perhaps lapsed into being sappy, but Mifunes harsh look saves it from doing so. It also adds a layer of meaning to the movie, showing how being tough and hardheaded and willful (even deceitful) is sometimes necessary to get humanitarian work done. I think that Shimuras depiction may have perhaps been more emotionally nuanced, but I think holding back that emotion as Mifune did actually makes the film a bit better. The content of the material is so emotional and harrowing that I feel it requires a tougher character to get through it all and maintain realism. ALso this movie has a bit of physical action in it, and Mifune is better for that than Shimura. The hard situations confronted are often very violent, with people struggling and thrashing about, and Mifune looks more convincing dealing with that.
shareI agree as well.
One of the keys of this movie is that MIfune is a stark and harsh teacher, imparting some of the most gentle and caring lessons on Yasumoto. Shimura definately would have made a more grandfatherly and not cynical character.
[deleted]
[deleted]
I've been plowing through the Criterion 25 Movie Set and after 20 Kurosawa movies it is striking not only how many times Mifune and Shimura show up, but the rest of the characters too. I do NOT think Shimura was too old at this point. It isn't that many years after Seven Samurai and he was pretty robust in that. However, he couldn't beat up the thugs at the brothel the way Mifune did. Also I think the gruff nature that is part of Mifune's character makes sense in this case. The caring and grandfather role has already been done in Ikiru, no need to repeat it. Mifune is better for this role, but also by this time Shimura just shows up for short periods of time in all of the movies. He doesn't play one of the two/three central roles in any of the movies I can recall after Seven Samurai although he is in lots of them. So I think Kurosawa just thought more in terms of Mifune for most of his main roles by this time.
shareIt was over a decade after Seven Samurai, and I do think Shimura was past this role. I agree with the rest though, Mifune was the right choice even if Shimura was capable.
The King of Peek-a-panty
www.flickr.com/photos/28739528@N07/
There's a weight, and sort of larger than life dominance that Mifune has that is key to the role. Shimura is a great actor, but he's got a much softer presence. It would have been a totally different performance, and I think a much less compelling one.
___
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIQhPGm4WRk
Shimura actually played a slightly similar role in Drunken Angel. I say slightly because the movie itself was quite different, but the character was similar to Red Beard.
shareShimura was probably not the better choice over Mifune for this film, but probably WAS the better choice for I Live in Fear
share