Akira Kurosawa - My DVDs

see also links to 2007 Toho re-issues

#
Film [links to screenshots]
Version
Region
Format
Aspect
mins
Notes
1 Sanshiro Sugata Eastern Eye
4
PAL
4:3
79
 
    Toho n/a NTSC     Laserdisc (2 sides)
2 The Most Beautiful MeiAh
free
NTSC
4:3
86
 
    Japanese version 1 NTSC 4:3   On order
3 Sanshiro Sugata II BoYing
free
NTSC
4:3
83
Same as MeiAh release?
    Eastern Eye
4
PAL
4:3
82
Much improved sub-titles
    Toho n/a NTSC     Laserdisc (2 sides)
4 They Who Step on the Tiger’s Tail BoYing
free
NTSC
4:3
58
Same as MeiAh release?
5 No Regrets For Our Youth BoYing
free
NTSC
4:3
110
Same as MeiAh release?
    Eclipse 1 NTSC 1.33:1 110  
6 One Wonderful Sunday BoYing
free
NTSC
4:3
108
Same as MeiAh release?
    Eclipse 1 NTSC 1.33:1 109  
7 Drunken Angel Madman
4
PAL
4:3
98
 
  Criterion 1 NTSC 1.33:1 98  
    BFI 2 PAL 1,33:1 94 yet to obtain copy
8 The Quiet Duel Ronin
1
NTSC
1.33:1
95
slightly better of these 2 releases
    Madman
4
PAL
4:3
92
 
9 Stray Dog Criterion
1
NTSC
1.33:1
122
 
  Eastern Eye
4
PAL
4:3
122
 
    BFI 2 PAL 1.33:1 117 On order
    JDVD
free
NTSC
4:3
122
Chinese release. No English sub-titles
10 Scandal Eastern Eye
4
PAL
4:3
104
 
  Shochiku 3 NTSC 4:3 104  
    Eclipse 1 NTSC 1.33:1 105  
11 Rashomon Criterion
1
NTSC
1.33:1
88
 
  Eastern Eye
4
PAL
4:3
85
 
    BFI 2 PAL 1.33:1 86  
    JDVD
free
NTSC
4:3
90
Chinese release
12 The Idiot Madman
4
PAL
4:3
159
Official (NTSC) length is 166 mins
  Masters of Cinema 2 PAL 4:3 166  
    Shochiku 3 NTSC 4:3 166  
    Eclipse 1 NTSC 1.33:1 166  
13 Ikiru Criterion
1
NTSC
1.33:1
143
 
  Madman
4
PAL
4:3
143
 
    BFI 2 PAL 4:2 137 On order
    JDVD
free
NTSC
4:3
140
Chinese release
14 Seven Samurai Criterion
1
NTSC
1.33:1
207
 
  Eastern Eye
4
PAL
4:3
207
 
    JDVD
free
NTSC
4:3
200
Chinese release. Double sided disc
    Criterion n/a     203 Laserdisc (4 sides)
    BFI 2 PAL 1.33:1 190 yet to obtain copy
15 Record of a Living Being [I Live in Fear] Madman
4
PAL
4:3
99
Original length 113 mins, export 104 mins
  Eclipse 1 NTSC 1.33:1 103  
    BFI 2 PAL 1.33:1 99 On order
16 Throne of Blood Criterion
1
NTSC
1.33:1
110
 
  Eastern Eye
4
PAL
1.37:1
110
 
    BFI 2 PAL 1.33:1 104 On order
    JDVD
free
NTSC
4:3
110
Chinese release
17 The Lower Depths Criterion
1
NTSC
1.33:1
125
Original length 137 mins?
  Madman 4 PAL 4:3 125  
18 The Hidden Fortress Criterion
1
NTSC
2.35:1
139
 
  Eastern Eye
4
PAL
16:9
138
 
    BFI 2 PAL 2.35:1 138  
    JDVD
free
NTSC
LB
139
Chinese release
19 The Bad Sleep Well Criterion
1
NTSC
2.35:1
150
 
  JDVD
free
NTSC
LB
150
Chinese release. No English sub-titles
    Madman 4 PAL 2.35:1 151  
    BFI 2 PAL 2.35:1 145 yet to obtain copy
20 Yojimbo Criterion
1
NTSC
2.35:1
110
Latest version
  Eastern Eye
4
PAL
16:9
110
 
    JDVD
free
NTSC
LB
110
Chinese release. Poor quality
    BFI 2 PAL 2.35:1 106 yet to obtain copy
21 Sanjuro Criterion
1
NTSC
2.35:1
96
Latest version
  Eastern Eye
4
PAL
16:9
96
 
    BFI 2 PAL 2.35:1 95  
22 High and Low BFI
2
PAL
2.53:1
143
Slightly cropped at top
  Madman
4
PAL
2.54:1
137
Slightly cropped at top
    Criterion
1
NTSC
2.35:1
143
Cropped on sides
    JDVD
free
NTSC
LB
143
Cropped on sides. English opening titles
23 Red Beard Criterion
1
NTSC
2.35:1
185
 
  Eastern Eye
4
PAL
2.35:1
185
 
    BFI 2 PAL 2.35:1 172 On order
    JDVD
1
NTSC
2.35:1
??
Chinese release. Double sided disc
24 Dodeskaden Wildside
2
PAL
4:3
135
French sub-titles only, excellent picture
    Criterion n/a   1.66:1 140 Laerdisc (3 sides) - good subtitles
    MeiAh
free
NTSC
4:3
139
Picture & sub-title quality are bad
25 Dersu Uzala Kino
free
NTSC
2.35:1
140
Russian. English audio dub
  Artificial Eye 2 PAL
2.35:1
135 Repackage of 2001 Ruscico release
    Spectrum 3 NTSC 2.35:1 135 South Korean. Repackage of 2001 Ruscico release. This is a 2 disc set labled "Orginal Version". Film is split over 2 discs. There is a 3 disc version which includes both the Original & the U.S. Versions.
    Divisa free PAL 2.35:1 144 Spanish. Same Ruscico release as Artifical Eye.
    MK2 2 PAL 2.35:1 ??? Repackage of 2001 Ruscico release
    Criterion n/a     140 Laserdisc (3 sides)
    Herald         Laserdisc (3 sides)
26 Kagemusha Criterion
1
NTSC
1.85:1
180
 
  Fox
4
PAL
1.85:1
152
Cut version. Box incorrectly states 2.35:1
    Toho n/a NTSC     Laserdisc (4 sides)
27 Ran Criterion
1
NTSC
1.85:1
160
Redder coloring than Optimum/Universal
  Optimum
2
PAL
16:9
160
Excellent - my favourite
    Universal
4
PAL
1.85:1
156
Same as Optimum. English audio dub
    Studio Canal free PAL 1.85:1 160 High Definition DVD (French)
    Masterworks
1
NTSC
1.85:1
160
Not much better than the Fox Lober
    Fox Lober
1
NTSC
1.85:1
160
Avoid buying & watching
28 Dreams Warner Bros
1
NTSC
1.85:1
120
 
  Japanese version 1 NTSC     On order
29 Rhapsody in August MGM
1
NTSC
1.85:1
98
 
             
30 Madadayo Madman
4
PAL
1.85:1
129
 
  Wellspring
1
NTSC
1.85:1
134
 
  Kurosawa Scripted films            
A The Fencing Master Eastern Eye
1
PAL
2.35:1 87 1962 remake of Tateshi Danpei orginally made in 1950

Updated: 30 March 2008