Red Beard (Criterion Collection) (DVD)

A testament to the goodness of humankind, Akira Kurosawa's "Red Beard (Akahige)" chronicles the tumultuous relationship between an arrogant young young doctor and a compassionate clinic director. Toshiro Mifune, in his last role for Kurosawa, gives a powerhouse performance as the dignified yet passionate director who guides his pupil to maturity, teaching the embittered intern to appreciate the lives of his destitute patients. Perfectly capturing the look and feel of 19th-century Japan, Kurosawa weaves a fascinating tapestry of time, place, and emotion. Includes: Audio Commentary by Kurosawa Film Scholar Stephen Prince; Trailer; Notes by Japanese-Film Historian Donald Ritchie (1965) Running time: 185 minutes. Languages: Japanese / SUB: English.

Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Yuzo Kayama, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kyoko Kagawa, Miyuki Kuwano, Ken Mitsuda, Kinuyo Tanaka, Tatsuyoshi Ebara, Yoshitaka Zushi, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Terumi Niki, Yoko Naito, Reiko Dan, Akemi Negishi, Kamatari Fujiwara, Takashi Shimura, Eijiro Tono, Haruko Sugimura, Chishu Ryu, Reiko Nanao, Koji Mitsui

Director: Ryuzo Kikushima, Tomoyuki Tanaka