Akira Kurosawa

Akira Kurosawa (黑澤 明) (1910--1998) was a Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter of films. He is Japan's best-known filmmaker. His films were influential on later filmmakers worldwide. His first film was released in 1941; his last in 1999 (posthumously). Few filmmakers have had a career so long or so acclaimed.

Kurosawa was born 23 March 1910 in Omori, Tokyo. During his lifetime he saw Japan change from an undeveloped country with military ambitions to a peaceful economic power. Although he is most remembered for his films of the 1950s and 1960s, he continued to direct and write films until his death. He died 6 September 1998 in Setagaya, Tokyo.

Kurosawa's best-known films are set in Japan's feudal period (about 13th century--17th century). Many of his plots are adaptations of William Shakespeare's works, for example, Ran? (based on [King Lear]?) and [Throne of Blood]?) (based on Macbeth). The Hidden Fortress (1958, Japanese name Kakushi toride no san akunin), the tale of a princess, her general, and two buffoon farmers, is credited by George Lucas as an influence on his Star Wars films. Other films include Rashomon?, [The Seven Samurai]? (later remade as the Western [The Magnificent Seven]?) andYojimbo? (the basis for the [Clint Eastwood]? western, [A Fistful of Dollars]?). Kurosawa also directed film adaptations of Russian novels: (Dersu Uzala); and United States crime fiction High and Low (based on an [Ed McBain]? novel).