Kagemusha

1980
PG
3h

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

39K

YOUR RATING

Home video trailer for the Criterion Collection release of this film about a thief recruited to impersonate a warlord

Play trailer1:28

1 Video

59 Photos

Epic Historical Epic Period Drama Tragedy War Epic Drama History War

A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

39K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 20 wins & 5 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 1:28

Kagemusha: Criterion Collection

Photos59

+ 51

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Much of the film recounts actual historical events, including Shingen's death and the two-year secret, and the climactic Battle of Nagashino in 1575. Those scenes are also modeled closely on detailed accounts of the battle.

Goofs
In the final battle there are at least 100 riflemen shown firing their matchlock rifles in volleys. The smoke generated by the matchlocks almost immediately dissipates. This indicates a more modern gunpowder was used in the matchlocks as the historically correct black powder load would blanket the battlefield with thick smoke after a handful of volleys.

Quotes
Nobukado Takeda: The shadow of a man can never stand up and walk on its own.

Alternate versions
In the original Japanese version, there are 20 minutes featuring Kenshin Uesugi. For some reason, these scenes were cut out of the USA version.

Connections
Featured in A.K. (1985)

User reviews132

Review

Featured review

7/10

epic with static scenes

A petty thief is pulled from crucifixion and made to be the double of the ruthless powerful warlord Shingen Takeda. Both the warlord and his brother Nobukado are impressed. It's 1573. Shingen is mortally wounded at a siege. He orders his generals to hide his death for at least 3 years and not to advance from their domain. When he dies in secret, Nobukado proposes to use the double. However the double is uncontrollable and he discovers the dead body. Meanwhile spies are looking for the truth.

Director Akira Kurosawa has made a meticulous movie. It is big. There are lots of costumes. The battles have lots of participants. It's real. It is 3 hours and lots of it is very static. It's very old school in that respect. The action isn't very visceral. It is more cerebral. What I mean is that it is visions of formation. There are few actual fights and little blood or gore. The big battle is seen not in the action but in the reaction of the people seeing the action. It is a different way of doing action. It's poetic but also a bit sterile.