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Toshirô Mifune and Isuzu Yamada star in this Japanese drama directed by Akira Kurosawa. After securing a great victory in battle for their lord Tsuzuki (Takamaru Sasaki), samurai commanders and friends Taketoki Washizu (Mifune) and Yoshiaki Miki (Minoru Chiaki) meet a mysterious spirit in the Spider's Web Forest who prophesies their rise to power. When the first part of the spirit's prediction comes true, Washizu tells his wife Asaji (Yamada) about the rest of the prophecy and her ambition leads him to commit murder, an act which seals both of their fates.
New restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s astonishing film that’s considered to be one of the great adaptations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Extras
Newly restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
Introduction by Sir Ian McKellen (2016, 2 mins)
Introduction to Throne of Blood by Mamoun Hassan (2012, 7 mins): the late writer, director, and producer introduces a screening of Akira Kurosawa’s film at the BFI Southbank
Audio commentary by Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck
Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Throne of Blood (2002, 23 mins): this documentary about the making of Throne of Blood features interviews with Akira Kurosawa, production designer Yoshiro Muraki, Noh performer Mitsuhiro Honda (from the Konparu School), and actress Isuzu Yamada
Macbeth (1945, 16 mins): two scenes from Shakespeare’s famous Scottish tragedy, with Wilfrid Lawson and Cathleen Nesbitt as a fine murderous duo
Original trailer
**FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with writing on the film by Alex Barrett, an essay on Kurosawa’s adaptations of Shakespeare by Ben Nicholson, Kurosawa on Throne of Blood (1964) and an original review
All extras are TBC and subject to change
