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Three Outlaw Samurai



This first film by the legendary Hideo Gosha is among the most canonized chambara (sword-fighting) films. An origin-story offshoot of a Japanese television series phenomenon of the same name, Three Outlaw Samurai is a classic in its own right. In it, a wandering, seen-it-all ronin (Tetsuro Tamba) becomes entangled in the dangerous business of two other samurai (Isamu Nagato and Mikijiro Hira), hired to execute a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of a corrupt magistrate. With remarkable storytelling economy and thrilling action scenes, this is an expertly mounted tale of revenge and loyalty.

Disc Features

- High-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
- Trailer
- New English subtitle translation
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri

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Thrilled to see this one make it to the mainline (albeit featureless): alongside Kobayashi’s Harakiri, it’s the finest samurai film I’ve seen (while I admire Kurosawa’s entries in the genre, I love him for his noir). Hopefully Bandits v. Samurai Squadron will get the same treatment. While not as consistent as the earlier film, it’s one I’d like to revisit, and would be worth owning on blu just for the absolutely mad opening sequence: a gonzo bloodbath, choreographed by Gosha with exhilarating precision.

Dark Shadows is an other one I would love to see on disc. It nearly matches Sezuki in insanity and is probably my favorite of his Samurai films, though I'm partial to his yakuza entries.

Finally.

Movie Trailer (French subtitles)

According to the Japanese Wikipedia page, the film is based on the first episode of the first series of the TV show. The movie has been available in Japan for some time now, though only on DVD, but unfortunately of the TV show, which ran from 1963 to 1969 (along with a short-lived reboot in 1970) only Series 4 (1966-1967, 26 episodes [made without Gosha and Tanba Tetsuro both of whom left after series 1]) remains in existence; the article sights its being shot on videotape as one reason for the loss. Still, the complete extant episodes were released in a decent-looking 9 disc, $400(!) box set that I'd like to get my hands on someday.

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the movie in all its high-definition glory but it would have been nice to have some accompanying features; perhaps something on Gosha, the connection between the film and TV show, a short history of the chanbara genre, etc. Presumably the essay will go some way to presenting this information but it does seem sometimes that most of Criterion's Japanese releases tend to get the short shrift as regards on-disc extras.

Still, I'm certainly looking forward to checking out the disc and good for Criterion for tracking it down and putting it out in HD, something which unfortunately Japanese studios don't seem to have much interest in.

This is a fantastic samurai film. I caught it on Hulu yesterday (what a great deal that is!) and would like to contribute to the love people have already expressed for it. It's 93 minutes of expert storytelling, paced quickly and not a moment wasted. From its opening hostage scenario to the final battle, the film is a study in merging character and action in effective ways. I wish all Hollywood screenplays were this concise. Fortunately, it still takes its time to shade in character traits of the three titular samurai as they combat the double-crosses and lies of the bad guys, who aren't terribly complex characters (they are bad guys, after all), but given bureaucratic motivations that allow the audience some understanding of their weaknesses.

Special mention should also be made to the artful and composed cinematography. Multiple characters interact within and balance the frame (thereby speeding up the proceedings rather than constantly cutting between single-shots of characters like in most modern films) in ways that are consistently inventive and graphically pleasing. This is a notable trait of many Japanese films of the period and it's utilized especially well here.

I loved this immensely fun film and had a grin on my face the whole time. Even though I can watch it anytime on Hulu, I'm seriously considering purchasing the Blu-ray to enjoy the film in the best presentation possible. If you have Hulu Plus, I strongly suggest checking it out prior to the disc release.

Well Criterion owns the rights to Hunter In The Dark, Bandits Vs Samurai Squardron, and Dark Shadows. Throw in Tenchu and you have one fine boxset.

THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI was remade by Chang Cheh as THE MAGNIFICENT TRIO.

Aspect wrote:Special mention should also be made to the artful and composed cinematography. Multiple characters interact within and balance the frame (thereby speeding up the proceedings rather than constantly cutting between single-shots of characters like in most modern films) in ways that are consistently inventive and graphically pleasing. This is a notable trait of many Japanese films of the period and it's utilized especially well here.

Yes, Gosha is a master of scope cinematography. I have seen this on Italian TV three or four years ago, and even if I can't correctly remember the story I still have his images in my eyes.

Orlac wrote:THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI was remade by Chang Cheh as THE MAGNIFICENT TRIO.

Which is probably the best of his "early films" but not a patch on what he would start achieving post-The One-Armed Swordsman (and especially post-Vengeance). It does, however, lay bare Shaw Bros. indebtedness to the samurai film in rebuilding the wuxia pian as a masculine-driven genre.

Well we are now up to 7 out of 24 films having legit releases in the United States. We are slowly getting there.

1. Three Outlaw Samurai
2. Sword Of The Beast
3. Secret Of The Urn
4. Goyokin
5. The Wolves
6. Onimasa
7. The Geisha

If Criterion releases the three they have, we will be up to 10.

The one release that hasn't happened that shocks me the most is Tenchu. Easily one of the best Samurai films ever made starring Katsu. It really doesn't make a lick of sense why this hasn't come out yet.

Number 5 is OOP.

knives wrote:Number 5 is OOP.

Almost. It's going OOP on March 5th. Until then AnimEigo is having a sale on a bunch of Toho films for 5.99 each. The Wolves has an amazing transfer.

BTW, Criterion did an amazing job with Three Outlaw Samurai. I wish they would release more Samurai films as they have about 30 or so that haven't been released yet.

Still, if they release Gosha's Hunter In The Dark I would be a happy man.

Nothing beats Chiba Vs Nakadai in a chicken barn.

While I really enjoyed both Three Outlaw Samurai and Bandits v. Samurai Squadron, I haven't gotten around to Hunter in the Dark. But with these fews words:

Vegeta84 wrote:Chiba Vs Nakadai in a chicken barn.

you've cemented the film's position at the top of my "to-watch" list.

I can't remember which one, but I think it's that title, but one of the Hulu titles manages to out Suzuki Suzuki.

Yeah, Hunter In The Dark is not only my favorite Gosha film, but one of my favorite films period.

You can't imagine how ecstatic I was when I found out Criterion holds the rights to the film. Criterion is almost always on top of the game.

I've always felt that Gosha films would fit right at home with Criterion and hopefully Three Outlaw Samurai opens the doors to the world of Hideo Gosha for a few folks.

Hunter In The Dark is probably his most Shakespearean film. Almost everybody gets screwed over.

Vegeta84 wrote:Hunter In The Dark is probably his most Shakespearean film. Almost everybody gets screwed over.

I really do need to watch this: aside from the opening sequence, the thing I love most about Bandits v. Samurai Squadron is the Shakespearean qualities of the narrative, especially toward the end of the film.

Tamba's charisma really helps this film along-- helps any film along, really. His fertile mind and self assurance light up a little blaze in virtually any scene he appears in. His famous turn, so extraordinarily photographed, as Nakadai's nemesis in Seppu'ku / Harakiri really couldn't be better cast or performed. Interesting, albeit brief, comments from Nakadai viz Tamba on the second disc of the CC for the latter.

HerrSchreck wrote:Tamba's charisma really helps this film along-- helps any film along, really.

Absolutely: his brilliant performance in Imamura's Pigs and Battleships is the highlight of the film for me. My first exposure to Tamba was as the irascible, bird-hating grandfather in Takashi Miike's Happiness of the Katakuris, and I've enjoyed everything I've seen him in since; I'll have to check out that Nakadai interview on Harakiri.