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Donald Richie

The Films of Akira Kurosawa, Third Edition, Expanded and Updated Third Edition, With a New Epilogue

by Donald Richie (Author)

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In an epilogue provided for his incomparable study of Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998), Donald Richie reflects on Kurosawa's life work of thirty feature films and describes his last, unfinished project, a film set in the Edo period to be called The Ocean Was Watching.

Kurosawa remains unchallenged as one of the century's greatest film directors. Through his long and distinguished career he managed, like very few others in the teeth of a huge and relentless industry, to elevate each of his films to a distinctive level of art. His Rashomon―one of the best-remembered and most talked-of films in any language―was a revelation when it appeared in 1950 and did much to bring Japanese cinema to the world's attention. Kurosawa's films display an extraordinary breadth and an astonishing strength, from the philosophic and sexual complexity of Rashomon to the moral dedication of Ikiru, from the naked violence of Seven Samurai to the savage comedy of Yojimbo, from the terror-filled feudalism of Throne of Blood to the piercing wit of Sanjuro.

ISBN-10

9780520220379
ISBN-13

978-0520220379
Edition

Third Edition, With a New Epilogue
Publisher

University of California Press
Publication date

January 20, 1999
Language

English
Dimensions

9.88 x 0.6 x 9.88 inches
Print length

288 pages
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A gratifying study for both film buff and critic." ― Kirkus Reviews

"The seminal work on one of the greatest of all film artists, [it] has universally been regarded as a masterpiece of film criticism." ― Bloomsbury Review

"Definitive, readable, and a virtual model for future studies in the field." ― Saturday Review

About the Author

Donald Richie (1924-2013) was the Arts Critic for The Japan Times.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0520220374
Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; Third Edition, With a New Epilogue (January 20, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780520220379
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520220379
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.88 x 0.6 x 9.88 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #290,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #38 in Movie Theory
- #44 in Film & Television
- #593 in Movie History & Criticism

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Roman Martel

A good overview with some interesting criticism.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 4, 2008

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I was drawn to this book after hearing Mr. Richie's commentary on the DVD of "Rashomon". In many ways this book is a continuation of that type of commentary. One of the great things about the book is that Richie provides plenty of interesting observations about the actual filming and reception of Kurosawa's films; since he was present for most of them. He tackles the films from several angles including actual quotes from Kurosawa, his cast and crew. He discusses the creation of the films from pre-productions up to release, and in some cases even discusses how the films were received. Richie also delves into the themes and ideas behind each film, covering them in great detail.

Richie's opinions are just that, opinions. For the most part he is pretty balanced with is approach to the films. He points out the good and bad, as he sees it in each film. He does assume you've seen the films, and while he does include a synopsis, he does refer to the films quite freely. Richie does delve into Kurosawa's successes and failures with equal skill.

However Richie begins to lose steam after "Red Beard". He obviously doesn't like most of the films in the director's later period and goes to some length describing why they fail. This is a bit strange because I feel that some of the best Kurosawa (and certainly his most unique work) comes from this later period. Richie almost dismisses "Ran" as a retooling of "Kagamusha" something that I don't agree with at all. He also shrugs off "Dreams" as a summary film - and this is one of the most unique films Kurosawa attempted.

This book is an interesting read for Kurosawa fans. While I don't always agree with Richie, he does make some excellent points about the themes of the films and offers some interesting stories surrounding the production and reception of the films. Definitely worth reading for a fan looking for more of Richie's take on the films of Akira Kurosawa.

8 people found this helpful

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B. L. Tapley

Great book about a legendary director

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 24, 2021

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To my knowledge, this is the definitive examination of Kurosawa’s films; indeed, it’s as comprehensive as you could hope for. I only wish the illustrations could have been in color—a key few, at least.

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Coffeetable Kurosawa

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 17, 2002

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"The Films of Akira Kurosawa" is a great introduction to Kurosawa. In both physical size and length, it is an unintimidating invitation to those seeking to learn more about a director whose films they enjoy. It is the most visual of Kurosawa studies, which is nice considering that films are a visual medium. There are both candid on-set shots as well as film stills.
The book is designed for browsing, and does not need to be read front to back. A reader can easily skip around to the films that they are interested in. The writing is casual, and reads easy. Too many Kurosawa books read like college texts, and Donald Richie fills a niche by supplying a book for the casual reader.
The only drawback to "The Films of Akira Kurosawa" is that your interest will be sparked for many films that are not readily available. You will embark on a treasure hunt, seeking out rare gems such as "Drunken Angel," "The Bad Sleep Well" and "Throne of Blood."
To add to the author's credentials, Donald Richie supplies the commentary track on the Criterion Collection DVD of "Roshomon."

32 people found this helpful

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James J. Cremin

Analysis to Kurosawa

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 13, 2009

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The book I actually got through a third party is the Second Edition that was published in 1984, prior to when RAN was made and as Kurosawa and Mifune were still alive. However, the bulk of of Akira's films are here and at the time writing this, many of the early ones are now available to dvd. It is quite extensively researched as books of directors tend to be as opposed to actors. Once I watched most Kurosawa's films, I get very, very involved and just thank God he is acknowledged by so many film makers.

One person found this helpful

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Jimbo Little

Wonderful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 3, 2020

Great

Great, undepth information

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 28, 2012

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I bought this as a gift for my husband who teaches a university course on Japanese film. He is so pleased with it. The author is the ultimate expert. Even though my husband already knew quite a lot about Kurosawa's films, this books added more.

One person found this helpful

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WASP

Great book, learned a lot.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 13, 2013

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Ordered for a class and the book helped out with several assignments and I learned so much about Kurosawa. .

One person found this helpful

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Benjamin D Morgan

Great Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 4, 2014

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Very thorough and well written review of the films of the great Kurosawa. Nice photographs, format and excellent analysis of each film.

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Amazon Customer

A book of the films of a real master

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 20, 2014

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I was first introduced to Kurosawas films in the early 70s and loved them. It is great to find a book that reviews and fills in the background on them. I originally had an earlier version which missed out his later films. An ex-partner threw it away. The only goood thing about that was it made me get this version.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 12, 2017

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great book

LD

Sept très bons ouvrages sur Akira Kurosawa (au moins)

Reviewed in France 🇫🇷 on July 5, 2010

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Célébration du centenaire de sa naissance oblige, 2010 est l'année Kurosawa dans un certain nombre de pays, des rétrospectives intégrales de ses films (à la Cinémathèque française, au BFI de Londres, etc.) à quelques nouvelles publications. Celles-ci sont généralement un apport appréciable aux livres sur le maître, mais sont le plus souvent en anglais. Faisons un tour rapide des ouvrages consacrés à ce géant du cinéma japonais.

En français, le tour est vite bouclé, malheureusement, car deux des livres sur Kurosawa sont aujourd'hui épuisés: Akira Kurosawa d'Hubert Niogret et Akira Kurosawa d'Aldo Tassone sont tous les deux des ouvrages de qualité, qu'il est conseillé d'acquérir si vous les trouvez en occasion. Relativement fouillés, autant pour la partie biofilmographique que pour l'exploration des thématiques, leur texte est plus complet que celui de Charles Tesson , rédigé pour la collection Grands Cinéastes publiée conjointement par Le Monde et les Cahiers du Cinéma.

Charles Tesson réussit néanmoins l'exploit de concevoir la meilleure synthèse de l'oeuvre et de son auteur en aussi peu de pages. De loin un des meilleurs ouvrages de cette collection, son Akira Kurosawa est un modèle d'analyse condensée: il fait rentrer tous les éléments nécessaires à la compréhension du contexte et de la confection des oeuvres dont il parle, tout en ne sacrifiant pas l'analyse, même partielle. Fort bien rédigé, faisant une utilisation très équilibrée des notes et des pages séparées permettant de développer certains aspects en parallèle (ex. Toshiro Mifune, Kurosawa et le film de sabre, etc.), ce livre est la priorité pour qui voudrait lire une première approche qui n'en serait pas moins très renseignée et pertinente. L'iconographie est bien choisie et souvent bien reproduite. Essentiel, malgré les limites inhérentes à ce genre de format.

Réussir aussi bien le même type de synthèse, c'est ce qu'a tenté Peter Cowie dans un ouvrage paru cette année en anglais, Akira Kurosawa: Master of Cinema , pratiquement du double de taille, beaucoup plus épais et luxueux, mais dans lequel le texte, sans être secondaire, est quelque peu subordonné à l'iconographie. Celle-ci est il vrai à la fête, et l'on retrouve là les qualités et les défauts des 'beaux livres' à l'italienne: mise en page très aérée, parfois trop, avec des photos souvent coupées sur un bout de la 2ème page, mais aussi beaucoup de doubles pages, certaines très bien réalisées. Photogrammes, mais aussi peintures et dessins, extraits de storyboards: tous les talents picturaux de Kurosawa sont ici bien représentés. Le texte de Cowie est tout à fait complémentaire de celui de Tesson, et si certaines de leurs assertions se recoupent, ils n'insistent pas toujours sur les mêmes aspects. Pas toujours chronologique, le découpage de Cowie est parfois discutable ou un peu abrupt, mais ses chapitres sur les adaptations littéraires ou sur les éléments naturels au centre de l'oeuvre sont fort intéressants.

Toujours en anglais, il existe un grand classique - qui en est à sa 3ème édition depuis sa 1ère parution en 1965 - écrit et mis à jour par le spécialiste du cinéma japonais Donald Richie, The Films of Akira Kurosawa . Même si quelques façons de procéder peuvent sembler quelque peu datées, cet ouvrage fait figure de somme. Moins richement illustré, les photos étant exclusivement en N&B mais fort bien reproduites dans l'ensemble, c'est le livre au texte le plus riche, dont tous les autres auteurs se sont évidemment inspirés. Séparer le synopsis, le traitement et l'analyse peut parfois sembler superficiel, mais il donne énormément d'éléments de contexte, cite beaucoup Kurosawa lui-même, étudie les choses de façon souvent pointue. Un classique à juste titre, et un livre essentiel si vous êtes anglophone.

On sait que l'oeil de peintre de Kurosawa a fait des merveilles, les plans étant toujours travaillés autant pour le cadre et les lignes que les couleurs. Nombre de ses dessins préparatoires ont été exposés il y a quelque temps au Petit Palais et ont fait l'objet d'un beau catalogue: Akira Kurosawa : Dessins . Très émouvants: les dessins du film qu'il préparait, ce qui montre bien qu'il ne comptait pas s'arrêter à Madadayo , devenu testament par la force des choses.

Au total, 6 ouvrages, dont 4 seulement sont encore largement disponibles, et 2 sont en français. Mais ces 4 ouvrages-là sont de grande qualité, quels que soient leurs limites et leurs défauts. Pour les mordus de Kurosawa, j'indique également le numéro de la revue Positif (n°461-462 juillet-août 1999), avec un dossier très riche réalisé quelques mois après sa mort, qui doit encore pouvoir se commander sur le site de la revue.

ADDENDUM 05/2013 Depuis la rédaction de ce commentaire, un nouvel ouvrage a paru en français : Le cinema d'Akira Kurosawa d'Alain Bonfand. J'ai cru comprendre qu'il était des plus réussis, mais ne l'ai pas encore lu. J'ai en revanche lu l'étude consacrée par Clélia Zernik aux Sept Samouraïs, et la recommande très vivement : Les Sept Samouraïs de Akira Kurosawa : Chorégraphies (voir mon commentaire).

9 people found this helpful

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Sean

Masterpiece

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 21, 2020

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Great in depth dive on a wonderful career by a brilliant writer/director.

m.o.

Simply offensive!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 23, 2010

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I can't believe someone ever could get this text published...its interest amounts to almost nothing (only a few quotations from A. Kurosawa's Autobiography do give some real information)...
The whole book is only a synopsis of each film (some of them oddly misunderstood in basic aspects)...which makes it useless if you've already watched them, and if you haven't, it spoils the experience by revealing the whole plot and ending.
Then, Richie gives his own opinion, interpretation and criticism of each film...to this point, the book was empty, but with this, it becomes simply offensive! He contradicts himself, often in the same paragraph, as he also contradits Kurosawa's reports about the films, shooting, actors, results, etc...
Richie, eager to say something witty apparently at any cost, points at supposed, sometimes stilted and sometimes hackneyed symbolisms, everywhere (Kurosawa politely wrote a kind preface to this book, but did add to it that he doesn't always agree with Richie's statements on his work), while he despises most moments of emotion in these films...
He intends to write an hermeneutic pseudo-philosophical textbook on something that isn't correctly approached by these means: film and art...
And writes about his own reactions to the films, explaining his own (mysteriously restrained) tastes, which can't be of much interest to any reader interested in Kurosawa's work rather than in Mr. Richie...
The book barely contains any information about the making of the films, conception of the idea and the script, etc, in any case much less than you can find in Kurosawa's interviews or own Autobiography.
It lacks interest, reliability and respect to an unbelievable extend in a book...

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