influence for star wars. - Kakushi-toride no san-akunin (1960) Discussion

[–] Zaphekiel 21 years ago

Everyone overstates its influence on Star Wars though. You can even see George Lucas trying to downplay it on the DVD. I mean, it's not like Hitchcock being an "influence" on Brian De Palma's "Blow-Out" or anything. It's a thread alright, but a scanty one overstated by critics looking for something to talk about.

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[–] Uberhamster 21 years ago

Yes, I agree, it is only a part of the story, and only for (the first) star wars, not for the sequels or prequels (except for the continuing relation between the two droids).

This is not a signature.

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[–] gary-396 21 years ago

oh no im not saying that becuase of this movie star wars was made, but the fact that the story is told by the two lowest forms of the movie. and like obi wan influences.

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[–] Dirtrum 21 years ago

There are also hints of Tadokoro in Lando. And that spear fight looked more like a lightsabre duel than any swordfight I've ever seen.

I think Lucas likes to downplay the relationship between the films because he doesn't like to admit the only real worthwhile thing he's ever done was basically lift elements from this film, the Lensmen and Flash Gordon, then slap some great SFX over it all.

I think maybe he should have looked deeper into Kurosawa's catalogue for his prequel story. Maybe Padme could have been raped and Vader was on trial, and the story could have been told from several different perspectives? Or Vader could have been part of a rag tag peace keeping force? Or he could have been Padme's bodyguard, then he'd fall in love...wait a minute!!!! He remade the wrong "Bodyguard"!!!

I'm naked under my clothes...again

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[–] Zaphekiel 21 years ago

There are also hints of Tadokoro in Lando. And that spear fight looked more like a lightsabre duel than any swordfight I've ever seen.

Oh brother. You can find "hints" of anything in any movie.

I think Lucas likes to downplay the relationship between the films because he doesn't like to admit the only real worthwhile thing he's ever done was basically lift elements from this film

Or maybe people make too much of it, no?

I think maybe he should have looked deeper into Kurosawa's catalogue for his prequel story. Maybe Padme could have been raped and Vader was on trial, and the story could have been told from several different perspectives? Or Vader could have been part of a rag tag peace keeping force? Or he could have been Padme's bodyguard, then he'd fall in love...wait a minute

Let us now give thanks you weren't in charge of the movie.

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[–] Big G-2 21 years ago

Well, like I’ve said before on other message boards, STAR WARS is a hodgepodge of many, many ideas and influences. But then again, you shouldn’t downplay the influence THE HIDDEN FORTRESS or for that matter Kurosawa’s other features had on Lucas’ SW movies. If you've seen enough Kurosawa films, you would know some of these influences it had for SW. It's kinda like saying KING KONG had very little influence on the career of Ray Harryhausen.

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[–] Zaphekiel 21 years ago

I still think if you dig deep enough and stretch things enough you can find influences for everything within everything. If I worked at it I could probably show you how Death Wish 2 was a major influence on The Usual Suspects.

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[–] fj_pr 20 years ago

Stars wars it is not a copy of The Hidden Fortress but you can see more influences that the main story of the fugitive princess or the relation between the two farmers and the two droids.

For example, I believe Kurosawa had a major influence in occidental cinema and specially in this George Lucas. One thing in Star Wars we can relate to this picture is the treatment of the "movement" of the city. I can relate the cosmopolitan treatment of Tatooine with the one made of the city of the "Enemy Empire" when the fugitives arrives at it in this movie. I can see a relation because the camera placement and technique used is almost the same (I would say the same). We see a static camera folowing the movement of the protagonists and people crossing the frame (I´t is pretty frustrating that my English is so poor that I cannot explain this how I would like, but I have my limitations with your language). I see an analagoy between the Tatooine of Star Wars and this city I´m referring to in The Hidden Fortress.

Of course the punctuation sign, a Kurosawa-esque one: the wipe. This cut-style is one that Kurosawa introduced in cinema and we can see it in The Hidden Fortress as a sign that points out a different chapter. An inflexion point in the story. This same mark is in the trilogy of Lucas.

I´m not saying more cause I don´t have enough knowledge of your language. f**k, I feel bad for being so ignorant. I wish I could learn more English. :-)

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[–] Big G-2 20 years ago

Of course the punctuation sign, a Kurosawa-esque one: the wipe. This cut-style is one that Kurosawa introduced in cinema and we can see it in The Hidden Fortress as a sign that points out a different chapter. An inflexion point in the story. This same mark is in the trilogy of Lucas.

Actually, the wipe wasn't introduced by Kurosawa. It was used in several Hollywood features in the 1930's before (Frank Capra used it extensively in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT). But then, this unique editing form disappeared in the later 30s and the 1940s.(Fade outs and cut aways were now the norm). It was Kurosawa who resurrected it, and used it throughout all of his movies. And you are very correct that Lucas picked up on this and used it in SW. I don’t think many realize this or seem to notice. I believe Lucas’ features are the only ones that use wipes, although I could be mistaken.

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[–] Zaphekiel 20 years ago

Your knowledge of our language is fine. I commend you on it, you can speak my language better than I could speak yours. However:

"This cut-style is one that Kurosawa introduced in cinema and we can see it in The Hidden Fortress as a sign that points out a different chapter. An inflexion point in the story. This same mark is in the trilogy of Lucas."

Come on - you're reaching. Like I said, you look close enough you can connect the dots with any movies.

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[–] Big G-2 20 years ago

Well, that's where Lucas did get the idea for wipes - Kurosawa's films which he had in just about everyone of his features. You can argue on what inspiration THE HIDDEN FORTRESS had for SW, but you can't deny that Kurosawa heavily influenced Lucas as a filmmaker.

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[–] 20 years ago

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[–] Big G-2 20 years ago

I actually never though of it! It is a good point, though I'm not entirely sure if that was what inspired the RETURN OF THE JEDI sequence.

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[–] bricewgilbert 20 years ago

George Lucas mentions a lot on the Star Wars DVD how this film influenced him. Thats the only reason im here is to look into this movie since Lucas talked about it so much on the DVD's.

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[–] ganubis 20 years ago

Did anyone think the part when Mifune had to chase down the two guards on horseback before they alerted the base was similar to when Luke had to do the same thing, but on speeders, on Endor in The Return of The Jedi.

Yes.

Patriots always talk of dying for their country,and never of killing for their country

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[–] CounterPaul 20 years ago

SW, Inc. (take the entire mess of it) can't even HOPE to hold a candle to Kurosawa's drama. Compare THF's princess upon learning that her protector's sister sacrificed herself to protect the clan - deeply emotive - to "Prinschesh Laaaayah" (orated in 'nyeh-nyeh' tone) witnesses an entire planet decimated - shallow & unfeeling.

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[–] 20 years ago

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[–] 20 years ago

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