The Hidden Fortress (1958)
★★★½ — The Hidden Fortress (1958)
Released by Toho in 1958, The Hidden Fortress arrived at a point when Kurosawa was firmly established as Japan's foremost international filmmaker, following the global success of Rashomon (1950) and Seven Samurai (1954). Shot in the widescreen Tohoscope format, it was one of Kurosawa's first real experiments with that wider aspect ratio, and he leaned into it with considerable ambition, using the scope to capture large-scale action and sweeping landscapes. The film is perhaps best known in the West for the acknowledged influence it had on George Lucas when developing Star Wars (1977), particularly the device of telling the story largely through the eyes of two bumbling, low-status characters. Toshirō Mifune, by this point Kurosawa's most trusted leading man, anchors the action in what is a comparatively lighter, more crowd-pleasing register than much of their earlier collaborative work.
Akira Kurosawa’s Hidden Fortress may not get the same praise as Seven Samurai or -High and Low, but it’s one of his most dynamic and influential films and a seriously entertaining ride. Starring Toshiro Mifune as the grizzled General Rokurota Makabe, it tells the story of a disgraced warrior helping a princess flee through enemy territory, all while navigating war, betrayal, and two bickering peasants who’d rather be anywhere else. The structure is clever, told largely from the perspective of the lowliest characters, which gives it a grounded, almost mischievous energy. Mifune is, as always, magnetic, commanding, fierce, and quietly noble, and the film moves with a pace and clarity that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The action is smartly staged, the dialogue sharp, and the themes of loyalty, class, and survival are handled with Kurosawa’s usual depth, even amid the adventure. It’s a samurai film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still carries weight. And yes,.huge shout-out to George Lucas. Anyone who’s seen Star Wars will spot the DNA everywhere: the two squabbling peasants (hello, C-3PO and R2-D2), the hidden princess, the rebellion on the run, the daring escapes. It’s probably the biggest uncredited influence on a major franchise in film history. That alone gives it legendary status. Maybe it’s not Kurosawa’s most acclaimed, but Hidden Fortress is essential, a thrilling, smart, and hugely important piece of cinema that deserves far more attention than it gets.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 1958 | Watched: 2025-07-29
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from Akira Kurosawa: High and Low (1963) · Stray Dog (1949) · Throne of Blood (1957) · Ikiru (1952)
More with Toshirō Mifune: High and Low (1963) · Stray Dog (1949) · Throne of Blood (1957) · Sanjuro (1962)
More from Japan: Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain (2024) · Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage (2025) · Blue (1993) · The Ghost of Yotsuya (1959)
More from the 1950s: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) · Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Letter from Siberia (1957) · Invaders from Mars (1953)
More drama: Viy (1967) · Wonder (2017) · A Better Tomorrow (1986) · Beautiful Boy (2018)
More action: A Better Tomorrow (1986) · The General (1926) · Hand of Death (1976) · Daredevil (2003)
