About Red Beard

Red Beard is a 1965 film directed by Akira Kurosawa about the relationship between a town doctor and his young apprentice. The story unfolds in the 19th century, in a clinic in a poor part of Tokyo, where the young doctor Yasumoto is forced to apprentice under the stern but caring Dr. Niide, also known as ‘Red Beard’. The film examines the ills of society, highlighting poverty, ignorance, and disease, and through their interactions, Yasumoto comes to understand the true meaning of being a physician.

Making / Production

Directed by the famed Akira Kurosawa, Red Beard took two years to complete and was the last film Kurosawa made in monochrome. The film was noted for its meticulous craftsmanship, and Kurosawa was known to demand nothing less than perfection from his cast and crew. The set, which represented a 19th-century clinic, was meticulously researched and constructed with precise details, adding to the realism of the film.

Actors

• Toshiro Mifune as Dr. Kyojô Niide (Red Beard)- Mifune gives a gripping performance as the titular 'Red Beard', bringing a stern yet compassionate face to the world of medicine.
• Yôko Tsukasa as The Mantis- Tsukasa plays a moving role as a patient in the clinic, showing a range from distress to eventual calm.
• Yûzô Kayama as Dr. Yasumoto- Kayama skillfully portrays a young, arrogant doctor over time transforming into a compassionate physician.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• After this film, the collaboration between director Akira Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune ended, marking a significant moment in cinema history.
• Red Beard was at one point the highest-grossing movie in Japan.
• The film’s production was so long that it used up not one but two complete sound stages.

Awards

The film won several awards including the San Giorgio Prize at the 1965 Venice Film Festival and Best Film and Best Actor for Toshiro Mifune at the Mainichi Film Awards.

Quotes

• "In this world, there is nothing crueler than ‘poverty’."
• "He may be a patient, but he's also human."

Music, Soundtrack

• The soaring score of Red Beard was composed by Masaru Sato, who also composed the scores for other films by Akira Kurosawa.
• The soundtrack corresponds with the film’s themes of suffering, compassion, and redemption.