Toshirō Mifune

Toshirô Mifune , (三船敏郎 Mifune Toshirō , in Chinese Sanchuan Minlang ), is an actor, producer and Japanese realizer born on April 1st 1920 with Tsingtao (China), deceased the December 24th 1997 with Mitaka (Japan).

There remains one of the Japanese actors most famous in the world, in particular thanks to its profitable collaboration with the realizer Akira Kurosawa.

Biography

Its childhood

Mifune is born on April 1st 1920 in Tsingtao (now Qingdao) in China from Japanese parents, and grows with Dalian with his/her parents and its two brother and sister. In its youth, he works in the store of photography of his father Tokuzo, a Méthodiste and probably also a missionary, preaching near the Japanese community of Dalian.

Although it spent the first 19 years of its life to China and that it usually speaks the Mandarin, it is as a Japanese citizen that it is enlisted in the Japanese Imperial Air force where it works as air photographer during the Second world war. He goes back to Japan in 1946.

The beginning of its career

In 1947, one of his/her friends who works with the photographic service at Tôhô finds him a station as assistant of catches of sights. However, the company is at the time related to the Communist party, which hardly comforts Mifune, rather religious and preserving.

Following a prolonged strike, a great number of actors leave Tôhô in order to create their own company. At once, the studio organizes a contest in order to discover new talents. Friends of Mifune make it take part in its knowledge, and it is taken with 48 others (out of 4000 applicants) in order to make a screen test for Kajirô Yamamoto. With hearing, when one asks him for mimer anger, it draws from its military past and seems so convincing that the inspectors eliminate it, fearing that he is a too arrogant and painful person. By chance, Kajirô Yamamoto appreciates its performance and advises it with his/her colleague Sankichi Taniguchi who offers its first role in to him Shin baka jidai in 1947.

The marriage

One of the partners of Mifune, one of the 32 women selected during the contest of Tôhô, is called Sachiko Yoshimine. From 8 years its junior, it comes from an easy family of Tokyo. They fall in love and Mifune the demand soon for marriage.

But the parents of Yoshimine oppose the marriage with Mifune which is not Buddhist, which is originating in Mandchourie (an area considered then by the Japanese as a den of villains), and whose profession is not a pledge of stability nor of responsibility.

The realizer Senkichi Taniguchi, with the assistance of Akira Kurosawa, manages to convince the family to authorize the marriage. This one takes place in February 1950. In November of the same year, their first Shirô wire comes in the world. In 1955 they have a second wire, Takeshi, then in 1961 a girl, Mika.

The celebrity

Its imposing stature, its panoply of actor, its ease with the foreign languages and its long collaboration with the famous realizer Akira Kurosawa make of it the Japanese actor most famous at the time, and certainly most known in the western world. He often plays the part of a Samurai or a rônin, often coarse and bourru, going against the traditional image of these characters. In films like the Seven Samurais and Yojimbo , its character misses good mannerss but its qualities are elsewhere, in its wisdom, its experiment, or its prowess with the combat. In Sanjurô , its effectiveness without ornaments contrasts with the neat aspect of the samurais of the Court. Kurosawa appreciates much the very simple emotion which emerges from its actor, where any other actor would have made tons of them.

Mifune is also recognized for its direction of humor (he does not hesitate to turn himself in derision in its own films), but also for the importance which he attaches to each one of his roles. Thus, to prepare the Seven Samurais and Rashōmon , he studies on videotape of the combat of lions in the bush; for Ánimas Trujano , it looks at films of Mexican actors in order to be able to pronounce its Spanish counterparts correctly. In its first English films ( Grand Prix in 1966…) he learns his counterparts phonetically and the result is not always convincing, its voice then having to be doubled by Paul Frees. But it improves with the passing of years and, in 1971, it is its own voice which one hears throughout the red film Sun , a western with international casting. He always regretted not to have a more prolific career in Occident. Its English role most memorable is certainly that of the admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in the Battle of Midway (1976).

It is one moment under consideration for the role of Obi Wan Kenobi by George Lucas whereas this one prepares the Star Wars , having already played a similar part (the Rokurota general) in the hidden Fortress (1958), a film whose influence is made feel in film of George Lucas.

One owes him to the prototype of the “ warlike vagrant ” whom he often interpreted at Kurosawa. This character will be in particular taken again by Clint Eastwood in his westerns, in particular the westerns spaghettis of Sergio Leone. On this subject, it is interesting to note that For a handle of dollars is a Remake integral and unavowed of Yojimbo , which besides hardly rained in Kurosawa.

The majority of 16 films gathering Kurosawa and Mifune became today of the traditional ones: Rashōmon , the mad Dog , the Seven Samurais , the hidden Fortress , the Castle of the spider (an adaptation of the Macbeth of Shakespeare), Yojimbo , Sanjurô …

Mifune and Kurosawa separate after Barberousse (1965). Having let push its beard and having to preserve it intact lasting the 2 years of turning, Mifune can turn in no other film, which puts the actor and his production company in financial problems. Fortunately the film makes a triumph in Japan and walk well in Europe, but not in the United States.

Last years

In a survey carried out by a magazine in 1984, Mifune is recognized like “the Japanese of all the men ”. In its native land and abroad, he is thus often regarded as the Japanese man par excellence.

With the beginning of the year 1980, Mifune creates a school of comedy, Mifune Geijutsu Gakuin (三船芸術学院), but the firm school at the end of 3 years because of a hazardous management.

It obtains its true popular dedication in Occident thanks to its role of Toranaga in the television serial Shogun . However, the historical inconsistencies and a little simplistic vision of Japan given by the series hold for him a reception mitigated with the country of the Rising sun. That still increases the ditch with Kurosawa, putting a quasi final term at all future collaboration.

Made Kurosawa of many unpleasant declarations in connection with Mifune, and reciprocally. They will be reconciled in 1993 at the time of the burial of their friend Ishirô Honda after being distant during almost 3 decades. But they will not on the occasion to work again together, nor to reconstitute their old friendship, because both will die in the 5 years which follow.

In 1992, Mifune starts to suffer from a serious health issue, whose true nature remains unknown. It is claimed that it wore with the task, or that it had an heart attack. Always it is that there is withdrawn suddenly and remained cloister at his place, taken care by his wife. When this one dies in 1995 of a cancer of the pancreas, the physical status and mental of Mifune declines quickly. He dies the December 24th 1997 with Mitaka (Japan), at the 77 years age.

Catalog of films

As actor

  • 1947 : Ginrei No hastens : Eijima
  • 1947 : Shin baka jidai (Zen) : Chief of gang
  • 1947: Shin baka jidai (Go) : Chief of gang
  • 1948: the drunk Angel ( Yoidore tenshi ): Matsunaga
  • 1949 : the quiet Duel ( Shizukanaru ketto ): Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
  • 1949: Jakoman to Tetsu : Tetsu
  • 1949 : the mad Dog ( Nora inu ): Inspector Murakami
  • 1950: Datsugoku
  • 1950 : Ishinaka sensei gyojoki
  • 1950 : Scandal ( Shubun ): Ichirô Aoye
  • 1950 : Konyaku yubiwa : Takeshi Emma
  • 1950: Rashōmon : Tajōmaru
  • 1951 : Sengoha obake taikai
  • 1951 : Have to nikushimi No kanata E
  • 1951: Aika
  • 1951 : the Idiot ( Hakuchi ): Denkichi Akama
  • 1951 : Kaizoku-SEN
  • 1951: Kanketsu Sasaki Kojiro - Ganryu-to Ketto : Musashi Miyamoto
  • 1951 : Bakurô ichidai : Yonetaro Katayama
  • 1951 : Onnagokoro dare ka shiru
  • 1952 : Araki Mataemon: Kettô kagiya No tsuji : Mataemon Araki
  • 1952 : Muteki
  • 1952 : Life of O' Haru gallant woman ( Saikaku ichidai onna ): Katsunosuke
  • 1952 : Kin No tamago: Golden delicious girl
  • 1952: Sengoku burai : Sifted Hayatenosuke
  • 1952: Tōkyō No koibito
  • 1952: Gekiryu
  • 1952 : Minato E kita otoko : Goro Niinuma
  • 1953 : Fukeyo haru kaze : Matsumura
  • 1953 : Hoyo : Shinkichi/Hayakawa
  • 1953: Himawari musume : Ippei Hitachi
  • 1953 : Taiheiyo No washi : 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
  • 1954: the Seven Samurais ( Shichinin No will samurai ): Kikuchiyo
  • 1954 : the Legend of Musashi ( Miyamoto Musashi ): Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)
  • 1954: Shiosai : Captain of Utashima-maru
  • 1954: Mitsuyu-SEN : Eiichi Tsuda
  • 1955 : Dansei No 1 : Maki
  • 1955 : Tenka taihei
  • 1955 : Zoku tenka taihei
  • 1955 : Otoko arite : Yano
  • 1955 : Zoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijōji No kettō : Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)
  • 1955: Chronic of an living being ( Ikimono No kiroku ): Kiichi Nakajima
  • 1956 : the Way of the light ( Miyamoto Musashi kanketsuhen: kettō Ganryūjima ): Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)
  • 1956: Kuro-obi sangokushi : Masahiko Koseki
  • 1956 : Ankokugai : Inspector as a chief Kumada
  • 1956: Aijō No kessan
  • 1956: Tsuma No kokoro
  • 1956: Narazu-mono : Kanji
  • 1956 : Shujinsen
  • 1957 : the Castle of the spider ( Kumonosu jō ): Taketori Washizu
  • 1957 : Arashi No naka No otoko : Saburō Watari
  • 1957 : Kono futari nor sachi are
  • 1957: Yagyu bugeicho : Tasaburo
  • 1957 : Kiken Na eiyu
  • 1957: the Hollows ( Donzoko ): Sutekichi the robber
  • 1957: Shitamachi
  • 1958 : Yagyu bugeicho - Ninjitsu : Tasaburo
  • 1958 : Tokyo No kyujitsu : Nephew of Tenkai
  • 1958: Muhomatsu No issho : Matsugoro
  • 1958 : Yajikita dochu sugoroku
  • 1958 : Kekkon No subete : Professor of comedy
  • 1958: Jinsei gekijō - Seishun hen
  • 1958: the hidden Fortress ( Kakushi-toride No san-akunin ): General Rokurota Makabe
  • 1959: Ankokugai No kaoyaku : Kashimura
  • 1959 : Aru kengo No shogai : Heihachiro Komaki
  • 1959 : Sengoku gunto-den : Rokuro Kai
  • 1959 : Dokuritsu gurentai : Commander of battalion
  • 1959: Japanese tanjo : Prince Yamato Takeru
  • 1960: Ankokugai No taiketsu : Inspector Saburo Fujioka
  • 1960: Kunisada Chuji : Chuji Kunisada
  • 1960 : Hawaii Middouei daikaikusen: Taiheiyo No arashi : Admiral Yamaguchi
  • 1960: Otoko tai otoko : Kaji
  • 1960 : the bastards sleep in peace ( Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru ): Koichi Nishi
  • 1960 : Sararīman Chushingura : Kazuo Momoi
  • 1961 : Osaka OJ monogatari : Mohei
  • 1961 : Zoku sararīman Chushingura : Kazuo Momoi
  • 1961 : the Bodyguard ( Yojimbo ): Sanjuro Kuwabatake/the Samurai
  • 1961: Gen to fudōmyō-ō : Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
  • 1962: Sanjuro ( Tsubaki Sanjūrō ): Sanjūrō Tsubaki/the Samurai
  • 1962: Ánimas Trujano (El hombre important) : Ánimas Trujano
  • 1962 : Doburoku No Tatsu : Tatsu
  • 1962 : Zoku shachō yōkōki
  • 1962 : Chushingura - Hana No maki yuki No maki : Genba Tawaraboshi
  • 1963 : Taiheiyo No tsubasa : Lt Colonel Senda
  • 1963: Between the sky and the hell ( Tengoku to jigoku ) of Akira Kurosawa: Kingo Gondo
  • 1963 : Gojuman-nin No isan : Takeichi Matsuo
  • 1963 : Daitozoku : Sukezaemon Naya, alias “Luzon” (Sinbad in the english language version)
  • 1964: Shikonmado - Dai tatsumaki : Lord Akashi
  • 1965: Samurai : Tsuruchiyo Niiro
  • 1965 : Barberousse ( Akahige ): Dr. Kyojio Niide, “Akahige” ''
  • 1965: Sanshiro Sugata ( Sugata Sanshiro ): Shogoro Yano
  • 1965 : Taiheiyo kiseki No sakusen: Kisuka : Omura
  • 1965 : Chi to suna : Sergeant Kosugi
  • 1966: Abare Goemon : Abare Goemon
  • 1966 : the saber of the evil : Toranosuke Shimada
  • 1966 : Kiganjō No bōken : Osami
  • 1966 : Doto ichiman kairi : Heihachirō Murakami
  • 1966 : Grand Prix : Izo Yamura
  • 1967 : Jōi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu : Isaburo Sasahara
  • 1967 : Nihon No ichiban nagai hi : Anami, Minister for the war
  • 1968: Gonin No nobushi (serial TV)
  • 1968: Chikadō No taiyō made : Kitagawa
  • 1968 : Rengo kantai shirei chôkan: Yamamoto Isoroku : Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
  • 1968: Gion matsuri : Kumaza
  • 1968 : Duel in the Pacific ( Hell in the Pacific ): Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
  • 1969: Furin kazan : Kansuke Yamamoto
  • 1969: Eiko E No 5,000 kiro
  • 1969: Nihonkai daikaisen : Admiral Heihachiro Togo
  • 1969: Akage : Gonzo
  • 1969: Shinsengumi : Isami Kondo
  • 1970 : Zatōichi to Yōjinbō : Sifted the yojimbo
  • 1970: Bakumatsu : Shojiro Goto
  • 1970 : Machibuse : the yojimbo
  • 1970: Aru heishi No kake : Tadao Kinugasa
  • 1970 : Gekido No showashi “Gunbatsu” : Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
  • 1971: Dai will chushingura (series TV)
  • 1971: red Sun : Kuroda Jubie
  • 1972 : Koya No so ronin (series TV): Kujuro Toga
  • 1973: Koya No yojimbo (serial TV)
  • 1975: Paper Tiger : Ambassador Kagoyama
  • 1976: Ken to kaze to komoriuta (series TV)
  • 1976: the Battle of Midway ( Midway ): Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
  • 1977: Otoko No shiken
  • 1977: Muhogai No suronin (series TV)
  • 1977: Kakushimetsuke sanjo (serial TV)
  • 1977: Ningen No shōmei : Yohei Gun
  • 1977 : Japanese No gift: Yabohen
  • 1978 : Yagyū ichizoku No inbō : Lord of Owari
  • 1978: Nihon No gift: kanketsuhen
  • 1978 : Edo No taka (series TV)
  • 1978: Inubue : Captain Murata
  • 1978: Ogin-sama : Taiko Hideyoshi
  • 1978 : Ako-OJ danzetsu : Tsuchiya
  • 1978 : Tono Eijirō No mito komon
  • 1979: Kakekomibiru nanagoshitsu (serial TV)
  • 1979: Winter Kills : Keith
  • 1979 : Kindaichi Kosuke No boken : Kindaichi of the future
  • 1979: Omitsu doshin O Edo sosamo
  • 1979: 1941 : Commander Akiro Mitamura
  • 1980: 203 kochi : Emperor Meiji
  • 1980: Shogun (telefilm): Lord Yoshi Toranaga
  • 1980: Shogun (serial TV): Lord Yoshi Toranaga
  • 1981: Sekigahara (TV)
  • 1981: Musumeyo! Have to namida No tsubasa tobe (TV)
  • 1981: Bungo torimonocho (serial TV)
  • 1981: Inchon : Saito-San
  • 1981 : Shingo juban shobu dai ichibu (TV)
  • 1981: Kyukei No koya (TV)
  • 1981: Suronin makaritoru (serial TV)
  • 1981: The Bushido Blade : Ordering of Shogun
  • 1982: Shiawase No kiiroi hankachi (TV)
  • 1982: Shingo juban shobu dai nibu (TV)
  • 1982: Suronin makaritoru dai nibu akatsuki No shito (TV)
  • 1982: With equal footings ( The Challenge ): Toru Yoshida
  • 1982 : Shingo juban shobu dai sanbu have neither iki-ken nor ikiru seishun (TV)
  • 1982: Suronin makaritoru dai sanbu chikemuri No yado (TV)
  • 1982: Seiha : Masao Tadokoro
  • 1983 : Yusha ha katarazu (serial TV)
  • 1983: Suronin makyosashodani No himitsu (TV)
  • 1983: Jinsei gekijo
  • 1983 : Suronin makaritoru dai yonbu sarumo jigoku nokorumo jigoku (TV)
  • 1983: Nihonkai daikaisen: Umi yukaba : Admiral Heihachiro Togo
  • 1983: Suronin makaritoru dai gobu namida nor kieru mikka gokuraku (TV)
  • 1983: Makyo sessho-tani No himitsu (TV)
  • 1984: Sanga moyu (series TV)
  • 1984: Moetechiru hono No kenshi Okita Sohji (TV)
  • 1984: Umitsubame Jyo No kiseki : Fishing
  • 1984: Natsu No deai (TV)
  • 1985: the Blood of the dragon ( Seijo densetsu ): Kozo Kanzaki
  • 1986 : Genkai tsurezure-bushi
  • 1987 : Sicilian Connection : Walled
  • 1987: Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shiretoko bojo : Dr. Junkichi “Jun” Ueno
  • 1987: Taketori monogatari : Taketori-No-Miyatsuko
  • 1989: CF gaaru : Shuichiro
  • 1989 : the Death of a Master of the ( SEN No Rikyu ): Rikyu SEN-No
  • 1989: Haru kuru oni
  • 1991 : Sutoroberi rodo : Taoka
  • 1992 : Kabuto : Lord Ieyasu
  • 1992: Shadow off the Wolf : Kroomak
  • 1994 : Picture Attaches : the Benshi
  • 1995: Fukai coffee : Tsukada

as Producer

like Realizer

  • 1963 : Gojuman-nin No isan

Rewards and Nominations

Rewards

  • 1961 : Cut Voipi of the best actor to the Mostra of Venice for Yojimbo .
  • 1965 : Cut Voipi of the best actor to the Mostra of Venice for Barberousse .
  • 1985 : Special Grand Prix of the Festival of Montreal for its contribution to the promotion of the Japanese cinema in the western world.

Nominations

  • 1956 : Nomination with BAFTA of the best foreign actor for the Seven Samurais .

Anecdotes

External bonds

  • Card IMDB
  • Site devoted to the actor
  • Page on CinéAsie
  • British Film Institute
  • Page dedicated to the actor
  • Acid Logic: Interesting Motherfuckers
  • Some film images
  • Text of Donald Richie on Toshiro Mifune
  • Toshiro Mifune Forever - Discussion forum

Random links:Edmundo Allenby, 1r vizconde Allenby | The Eighth Day (film, 1996) | Capesterre-Beautiful-Water-2 canton | Rio-grandense Republican party | Louis-Ghislain de Bouteville of Metz | Seymaz | Dahm_riche