XIII. The 30 Films of Akira Kurosawa: Shizukanaru ketto (The Quiet Duel) [1949] (by Lewis Saul)

Ed note:  For the next several weeks, composer and film aficionado Lewis Saul has agreed to supply us with in-depth commentary about the films of Akira Kurosawa, now showing in an extended festival at the Film Forum. Even if you're unable to stop by the Forum, we think Lew's insights will deepen your appreciation of these important movies.

Shizukanaru keto (The Quiet Duel) [1949]

PLAYING January 24th at The Film Forum.

This is Kurosawa's eighth film.

For a detailed frame-by-frame analysis, click here.

This conversation occurs at a crucial point in the film as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki (Toshirô Mifune) asks Susumu Nakada (Kenjiro Uemura, sole AK role) an interesting question ...

I detailed the 12 roles of Katamari Fujiwara in my post on Kakushi toride no san akunin (The Hidden Fortress) [1958] ... here are the 16 roles of Mifune, between 1948 and 1965, about one per year:

1. Matsunaga, a gangster (Yoidore tenshi [Drunken Angel] {1948});
2. Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki (this film);
3. Detective Murakami (Nora inu [Stray Dog] {1949});
4. Ichirô Aoe, painter (Shubun [Scandal] {1950});
5. Tajômaru, the bandit (Rashômon [1950]), playing January 28th;
6. Akama (Hakuchi [The Idiot] {1951});
7. Kikuchiiyo, the "samurai" (Shichinin no samurai [The Seven Samurai) {1954}), playing January 29th and 30th;
8. Nakajima, a 70-year-old man (Ikimono no kiroku [I Live in Fear/Record of a Living Being] {1955});
9. Washizu, a samurai (Kumonosu-ju [Throne of Blood] {1957});
10. Sutekichi, a thief (Donzoko [The Lower Depths] {1957}), playing January 31st and February 1st;
11. General Rokurota Makabe (Kakushi-toride no san-akunin [The Hidden Fortress] {1958});
12. Kôichi Nishi, an executive secretary (Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru [The Bad Sleep Well] {1960}), playing January 26th;
13. The ronin (Yojimbo [1961]), playing February 3rd;
14. The ronin (Sanjûrô Tsubaki [1962]), playing February 3rd;
15. Kingo Gondo, a shoe executive (Tengoku to jigoku [High and Low {1963});
16. Kyojô Niide (Red Beard),a doctor (Akahige [Red Beard] {1965}), playing February 2nd;

So, it is obvious even this early that Mifune's versatility was a strength for this still young actor (29, here). He would go on to play amazing, wonderful roles for Kurosawa over the years.