| | Hidden Fortress DVD
| Category | Action/Adventure DVDs, Action Movies, Foreign Films Videos, Adventure, Japanese, Criterion Collection, Samurai | | Starring | Toshiro Mifune, Misa Uehara, Takashi Shimura, Minoru Chiaki, Eiko Miyoshi, Susumu Fujita | | Director | Akira Kurosawa | | Cinematographer | Kazuo Yamasaki | | Producer | Akira Kurosawa, Masumi Fujimoto | | Screenwriter | Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni, Ryuzo Kikushima |
Black & White; English Subtitles This superb Japanese adventure film centers around a faithful but cynical general who, with the aid of two eccentric, oddball farmers, helps a headstrong princess safely cross a dangerous wasteland.
During a civil war in 16th-century feudal Japan, two cowardly farmers (Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujiwara) stumble upon Makabe (Toshirô Mifune), a fierce army general. Escaping from hostile territory, General Makabe embarks on a mission to rescue both Yukihime (Misa Uehara), the willfull princess of his ruling house, and the royal fortune. In the selfish hopes of finding the gold, the two misfits accompany the hardened soldier through dangerous mountain passes.
In addition to its status as one of Akira Kurosawa's finest films, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS is especially notable for its influence on director George Lucas's STAR WARS. Lucas admittedly borrowed much from Kurosawa's lighthearted epic; the two bickering misfits were the inspiration for R2-D2 and C-3PO, while Princess Leia was largely patterned after the feisty Lady Yukihime. Both Luke Skywalker and Han Solo contain elements of General Makabe, but neither character matches Mifune's disciplined ferocity. Theatrical release: December 28, 1958.
Shot on location at Mount Fuji, Japan.
Disastrous weather marred much of the film's production, causing the 10-day location shoot to go hundreds of days over schedule. However, it ended up doing extremely well upon its release in Japan, proving to be one of Kurosawa's most financially successful films.
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS was director Akira Kurosawa's last film for Toho Studios. After this film, he formed his own production company.
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS was awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.
Kurosawa also won the International Film Critics Award for Best Director.
The original version of the movie was 139 minutes. When the film was exported, the running time was cut down to 126 minutes. Hidden Fortress Quotes/Excerpts: "I do not mind dying, Rokurota. I have enjoyed happiness which I could never have known in the castle. I have seen people in their true form, and beauty and ugliness with my own eyes. I thank you, Rokurota. Now I may die without regret."--Princess Yukihime (Misa Uehara) to General Rokurota Makabe (Toshirô Mifune)
"I trust their greed. They will do anything if they are saddled with gold."--General Makabe, regarding the farmers
Hidden Fortress Reviews: "...[The film] blends intimate characterisation with vast vistas....The CinemaScope cinematography lends sweep..."-- Jamie Russell, Total Film Hidden Fortress | List Price | $19.95 (You save $5.66) | | Studio | Image Entertainment | | Orig Year | 1958 | | All Time Sales Rank |  85604  | | CD Universe Part number | 7911305 | | Catalog number | 18 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Jun 16, 2009 | | Rating | Not Rated | | Also Known As | Three Bad Men in the Hidden Fortress; Three Rascals in Hidden Forest; Kakushi Toride No San Akunin | | Running Time | 139 Minutes | | Additional Info | Widescreen; Black & White; Subtitled | | Movie Details | B&W; Widescreen; Black & White; Subtitled; Essential Art House / Criterion Collection |
Hidden Fortress Review
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Hidden Fortress DVD Widely remembered as the film that inspired George Lucas's Star Wars, The Hidden Fortress is one of Akira Kurosawa's most popular works, a thrillingly choreographed and cleverly written tale of chivalry and greed in medieval Japan, featuring Toshiro Mifune as a weary general in charge of protecting a princess (Misa Uehara).
Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
Dolby Digital
1.0 Mono - Japanese
Purchase Hidden Fortress Movie To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Best Of Ernest Ashworth CD (1991)
Hidden Fortress film
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Greatest Hits is a 12-track budget-priced collection that features some of Ernest Ashworth's biggest hits from the early '60s, including "Talk Back Trembling Lips," "Everybody But Me," "I Take the Chance," "A Week in the Country," "I Love to Dance with Annie," "Pushed in a Corner," "Because I Cared" and "The DJ Cried." Although this is a budget-priced disc, it contains the bulk of Ashworth's hits, making it a solid introduction to his career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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Hidden Fortress review
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Tommy Gibbs is a young killer with prison savvy and underworld connections who uses his gun to get the power he craves. As the new kingpin of Harlem, Tommy's methods begin to repel those closest to him and he finds himself at the wrong end of the barrel. Sequel: HELL UP IN HARLEM.
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Even when Guy Clark was young, he sounded like an old man with a weathered voice, suggesting a life fraught with experience. It is fitting, then, that 30 years into his career he sounds as spry as he does on WORKBENCH SONGS--his 12th full-length--as time has found Clark just hitting his stride. The album's no-frills production does justice to his West Texas wordplay, and this song cycle, including a great cover of "No Lonesome Tune" by his friend Townes Van Zandt, is among his finest.
Personnel: Guy Clark (vocals, guitar); Verlon Thompson (vocals, mandolin); Shawn Camp (acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, background vocals); Bryn Bright (cello, bass instrument, background vocals); Eddie Bayers (drums).
| | John Wayne's Tribute To America DVD (2007)
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John Wayne's first television special, originally aired as Swing Out, Sweet Land on NBC-TV in 1970, is a patriotic and poignant journey through American history -- with music, comedy and many famous friends. As host and narrator, Wayne walks through pivotal moments in America's past. His guests include Jack Benny as a citizen asking George Washington (Lorne Greene) about that dollar he supposedly threw across the Potomac River; Bob Hope and Ann-Margret entertaining the troops at Valley Forge; printer Red Skelton discussing dissent with apprentice Tom Smothers; lots more. Musical highlights include Ribbon Of Steel by Johnny Cash, This Is A Great Country by Glen Campbell, Oh, Susannah by Roy Clark,
| | Billy Joe Shaver Everybody's Brother CD (2007)
Hidden Fortress video
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A Billy Joe Shaver album is always cause for celebration, but on this 2007, Grammy-nominated release, the outlaw country troubadour shines in a whole new way. Produced by John Carter Cash, the album features all country-gospel originals, half of them sung in duet with a laundry list of country greats, including the late Johnny Cash, old partner in crime Kris Kristofferson, and Tanya Tucker. Although the Christian-themed lyrics are utterly sincere, fans needn't worry that Shaver has gone soft on them. The music crackles with country-rocking, honky-tonking fire.
Personnel: Jamie Hartford, Pat McLaughlin, Randy Scruggs (acoustic guitar); Eddy Shaver (electric guitar); Laura Cash (fiddle); Paco Shipp (harmonica); Tony Harrell (accordion); Dave Roe (electric bass); Dave Pomeroy (bass guitar); Freddy Joe Fletcher, Kenny Malone, Rick Lonow (drums); The Whole Gang (percussion); Etta Britt (background vocals).
Additional personnel: John Anderson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Tanya Tucker, Bill Miller (vocals); Marty Stuart (electric guitar).
| | Zatoichi And The Chest Of Gold DVD (1964)
Hidden Fortress film
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Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) must prove his innocence to a doubting populace in this sixth entry in the Japanese samurai series. Accused of being a thief, the blind swordsman attempts to expose the actual perpetrators while retrieving the gold that is missing. Elements of class and loyalty figure heavily into this ZATOICHI volume. This stunning episode features impressive color widescreen camerawork from cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa (YOJIMBO, KAGEMUSHA).
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| | Clannad - Collection 2 DVDs (2007) Subtitled
Hidden Fortress review
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High schooler Tomoya Okazaki has some serious issues with what he believes is a tough existence. The chip on his shoulder feels like it weighs a ton until he encounters the exotic and puzzling Nagisa Furukawa. Her very presence opens his eyes to new possibilities, and a different type of life unspools before him. This collection presents 12 episodes of the anime series.
Tomoya Okazaki is a high school student who resents his hard life. Then he meets a strange girl named Nagisa Furukawa , and his life begins moving in a new direction.
| | Kurokami - Part 1 DVDs (2008)
Hidden Fortress DVD
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In this adaptation of the manga KUROKAMI, high-school student Keita meets a young woman named Kuro, who will change his life. Kuro tells the orphaned Keita of the theories of the Doppeliner System and the Coexistence Equilibrium, which makes for pretty heavy talk at their ramen-stand encounter!
Animated; Standard Screen; Soundtrack English; English Subtitles
| | 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship DVD (2009)
Hidden Fortress movie DVD
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Watch the North Carolina Tar Heels triumph over the Michigan State Spartans in the 2009 NCAA Championship with this CBS Sports release.
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Hidden Fortress video
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GREY'S ANATOMY is a quick-witted medical drama that explores the personal and professional relationships of the doctors at a Seattle hospital. After an explosive fourth season that saw the star interns--Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina (Sandra Oh), Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and Alex (Justin Chambers)--begin their grueling careers as residents, the hit series launched its fifth year with even more drama: Cristina is stabbed (by an icicle) just steps from the hospital; Meredith and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) are officially "on" again; and Izzy fantasizes about being reunited with her dead soulmate. And that's just the season premiere! This collection includes every episode of the 2008-09 season and is packed with the smart, nuanced storytelling that made GREY'S ANATOMY a runaway hit.
Standard Screen; Additional Footage; Soundtrack English
| | Tianhuang Stones DVDs (2009)
Hidden Fortress film
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| | Scarface DVD (1983) Widescreen; Spanish Subtitles; French Subtitles
Hidden Fortress review
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Brian De Palma's blood-and-sun-drenched saga of a Cuban deportee's rise to the top of Miami's cocaine business has become something of a popular classic since its release; it's been referenced in rap songs and subsequent gangster movies and quoted the world over. Despite this lovefest with the dialogue, the film's brutal violence and lack of positive characters still make it controversial and disliked by certain critics. Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, whose intelligence, guts, and ambition help him skyrocket from dishwasher to the top of a criminal empire but whose eventual paranoia and incestuous desire for his kid sister (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) prove his undoing. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Tony's neglected coke-addicted trophy wife, and Steven Bauer is his concerned friend. F. Murray Abraham, Robert Loggia, and Paul Shenar are some of Tony's sleazy business partners and potential killers. Oliver Stone wrote the expletive-packed screenplay, based on Howard Hawks's 1932 version--which was ostensibly about Al Capone and starred Paul Muni and George Raft. The synth-heavy Giorgio Moroder score expertly evokes the drug-fueled decadence of 1980s Miami, and De Palma provides several of his elaborate set pieces, including a horrific showstopper in a motel room with a chain saw.
Additional Footage; Soundtrack English; Soundtrack French; Soundtrack Spanish; English Subtitles
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John Neschling conducts this glorious 2008 concert from the Sao Paolo Symphony.
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Hidden Fortress movie DVD
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