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Samurai Film Series
Selected Samurai Films
Documentary Films

Links

           color image of samurai & armor


VHS samurai catalog at Amazon.com
DVD samurai catalog at Amazon.com
samurai posters catalog at AllPosters [dot] com

Cinema of Japan Page

Kurosawa/Mifune Films Page


People


director  Hideo  Gosha  [1929-92]
IMDb listing


actor  Raizô  Ichikawa  [1931-69]
IMDb listing


director  Hiroshi  Inagaki  [1905-80]
videos/DVDsbrowse booksIMDb listingWikipedia
'Samurai' series: new DVD boxed set | VHS | DVD


actor  Shintarô  Katsu  [1931-97]
IMDb listing | 'Zato-Ichi' series on IMDb


director Akira  Kurosawa [1910-98] Page

Kurosawa/Mifune Films Page


director  Kenjo  Misumi  [1921-75]
explore videos/DVDsIMDb listing • no entry at Wikipedia

film series include 'Baby Cart', 'Zatôichi' & 'Nemuri Kyoshiro'


director  Kenji  Mizoguchi  [1898-1956]
IMDb listingWikipedia


actor  Tatsuya  Nakadai: IMDb listingWikipedia


director  Yasujiro  Ozu  [1903-63]
videos/DVDsIMDb listingWikipedia

Ozu by DR  
"Ozu" [1977] by Donald Richie
Univ of CA Press 9x6 pb [7/77] for $24.95


director  Yoji  Yamada
explore videos/DVDsIMDb listingWikipedia



Samurai  Film  Series

       'Lone Wolf & Cub' Series
browse videos & DVDs
Dark Horse paperback editions {manga}
listings at Internet Movie Database

"Lone Wolf and Cub" remake [announced for 2008 release]
Co-written & to be directed by Darren Aronofsky; no longer listed at IMDb {5/2008}

'Best of Lone Wolf & Cub' soundtrack CD [7/2004] for $16.98
Mighty Blowhole fan club site

Lone Wolf and Cub DVD box set   "Lone  Wolf  and  Cub"  DVD Box Set [2005]
Animeigo widescreen color DVD set [11/2005] 6 disks for $129.99
Six films directed by Kenji Misumi or Buichi Saito or Yoshiyuki Kuroda and starring Tomisaburo Wakayama; the collection includes Sword of Vengeance" [1972]; "Baby Cart At The River Styx" [1972]; "Baby Cart To Hades" [1972]; "Baby Cart In Peril" [1972]; "Baby Cart In The Land of Demons" [1973]; and "White Heaven In Hell" [1974]
Shogun Assassin samurai movie poster  "Shogun  Assassin"  [Katsu/Toho USA 1980]
A senile & paranoid shogun sends ninjas to kill potential rivals; the ninjas miss samurai Ogami Itto but kill his wife. The 'Lone Wolf' rônin then travels with his infant son seeking vengeance against the shogun. Co-produced, adapted & directed by Robert Houston; starring Tomisaburo Wakayama & Kayo Matsuo
Animeigo widescreen color DVD [7/2006] for $11.99
full credits from IMDb
27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99
11"x17" poster from Amazon for $14.99

'Zatôichi, The Blind Swordsman' Series
Based on the novels by Kan Shimozawa: not available on Amazon

Shintarô Katsu as Zatôichi, The Blind Swordsman  
the 26 original films [1962-89] with Shintarô Katsu [1931-97]
now on a separate page
Takeshi Kitano's Zatôichi poster  "Zatôichi:  The  Blind  Swordsman" color feature
[Asahi/Shochiku Japan Sept 2003, USA June 2004]

Written & directed by and starring Takeshi Kitano; co-starring Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Ookusu, Yui Natsukawa, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuuko Daike, Gadarukanaru Taka, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura & Kohji Miura; won 5 of 9 nominations for Japanese Academy Award; won Kinema Junpo People's Choice Best Film Award
B.M.G. Intl. soundtrack CD [6/2004] for $28.99
full credits at IMDbofficial movie website
white 27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99
available only on a Double Bill DVD with "Sonatine" [1993]
Miramax color DVD [11/2004] 2 disks for $17.99

'Samurai X / Rurôni Kenshin' anime
postersbrowse DVDsbrowse videostv series credits

'Nemuri Kyoshiro' Series
Based on the novels by Renzaburô Shibata [1917-78]: not available on Amazon; credits at IMDb

original films [1958-69] with Raizô Ichikawa [1931-69]: videos/DVDs |  IMDb listing

Nemuri Kyoshiro manga Vol 1  
"Nemuri Kyoshiro Volume 1" [2004]
by Shibata Renzaburo

Gutsoon Ent. pb [6/2004] out of print/rare

banner from Kurosawa / Mifune Film Festival at Landmark's Nuart Theatre in West Los Angeles (Nov-Dec 2002)

Kurosawa/Mifune Films Page



Selected  Samurai  Films

browse keyword 'samurai' at Internet Movie Database

films yet to be added include "Adventure of Kyoshiro" [] by Ichikawa, Jarmusch's "Ghost Dog" [],
"Harakiri" [], "Kwaidan" [], "The River Fuefuki" with SKatsu, "Tangasazen" [], "The Wanderers" [],
and "Warring Clans" [] by Okamoto

"Chushingura  -  Hana  no  maki  yuki  no  maki"
aka '47 Ronin' [Toho Japan Nov 1962, USA Oct 1963]
Chushingura samurai movie   A classic tale in Japan, filmed many times: Out of loyalty to a wrongfully-disgraced lord, 47 samurai attack his enemies, knowing that they are courting certain death. Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, starring Koshiro Matsumoto, Yuzo Kayama, Tatsuya Mihashi, Akira Takarada, Yosuke Natsuki, Makoto Satô, Chûsha Ichikawa, Toshirô Mifune, Eisei Amamoto, Hiroshi Koizumi, Kenji Sahara, Tadao Takashima, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Takeshi Shimura, Yuriko Hoshi, Kumi Mizuno, Yumi Shirakawa & Mie Ham
Image Ent. widescreen b&w DVD [2/2001] for $26.09
Home Vision b&w VHS [7/97] 2 tapes for $49.95
Image Ent. b&w widescreen VHS [2/2001] 2 tapes for $29.98
full credits from IMDb

plot summary at University of Kansas
JNC's history of 'Chushingura'

"Goyokin" [Toho/Fuji Japan May 1969, USA Aug 1969]
Goyokin samurai movie   An evil clan massacres a village and causes a shipwreck to steal the on-board 'official gold' (the movie's title); the clan leader is derided by his brother-in-law, who is then banished. When the outlaw samurai learns of plans for another massacre, he returns and unites with the lone survivor of the village and with a government agent to prevent the repeat. Co-written & directed by Hideo Gosha; starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Tetsuro Tamba, Kinnosuke Nakamura, Isao Natsuyagi, Yôko Tsukasa, Kunie Tanaka, Ruriko Asaoka, Ruriko Asaoka, Ben Hiura & Kô Nishimura
Tokyo Shock widescreen color DVD [2/2006] for $26.99
full credits from IMDb
gold-black 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $14.99

"The  Hidden  Blade"
aka 'Kakushi ken oni no tsume' [Shochiku Japan Oct 2004, USA Oct 2005]
The Hidden Blade movie   Beautifully-photographed romantic human tale set as modern weapons arrive in Japan; in three parts. A warrior is told to fight a friend who went to Edo and got caught in a web of intrigue, then was imprisoned. The friend's wife offers her body to save her man, but the boss allows the battle to go forward. The warrior kills the boss, renounces his vows as a samurai, and then marries his long-faithful housekeeper. Co-written & directed by Yôji Yamada; based on stories by Shuuhei Fujisawa; starring Masatoshi Nagase, Takako Matsu, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, Reiko Takashima, Min Tanaka, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Tomoko Tabata, Ken Ogata & Nenji Kobayashi; nominated for 12 Japanese Academy Awards (won one)
Tartan Video widescreen color DVD [8/2006] for $14.99
full credits from IMDb

"Hitokiri" aka "Tenchu!"
[Daiei/Fuji Japan Aug 1969, USA Feb 1970]
video cover of Hitokiri samurai movie   A down-and-out rônin allies himself with a ruthless clan leader out of desparation, but the Faustian bargain brings self-loathing and eventually a desire for retribution. Directed by Hideo Gosha; based on the Ryotaro Shiba novel; starring Shintarô Katsu, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yukio Mishima, Yûjirô Ishihara, Mitsuko Baisho, Takumi Shinjo & Noboru Nakaya
Region 1 video/DVD not available
full credits from IMDb

"Kill!" aka 'Kiru!'
[Toho Japan June 1968, USA March 1969]
Kill! aka Kiru! samurai comedy   Based on the same novel as "Sanjuro", but intended as a comedy about the conventions of samurai films and of Spaghetti Western films. A samurai haunted by his past and a farmer who aspires to bwecome a samurai side with a band of rebels in a local clan dispute.
Co-written & directed by Kihachi Okamoto; starring Tatsuya Nakadai & Etsushi Takahashi
Criterion b&w widescreen DVD [10/2005] for $26.99
full credits from IMDb

"Kill  Bill" [Miramax 2003 & 2004]
Kill Bill Vol. 1   Volume 1: A female assassin is attacked by her group leader, Bill, on her wedding day; after waking up from a coma, she seeks revenge. Written & directed by Quentin Tarantino; starring Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine, Julie Dreyfus & Sonny Chiba
Miramax color DVD [4/2004] for $19.49
Miramax color VHS [4/2004] for $21.24
Maverick soundtrack CD [9/2003] for $13.49
full credits from IMDb
official movie website
Kill Bill Vol. 2   Volume 2: The Bride is still mad. Written & directed by Quentin Tarantino; starring Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine, Julie Dreyfus & Sonny Chiba
Miramax color DVD [8/2004] for $13.99
Miramax color VHS [8/2004] for $24.99
Maverick soundtrack CD [4/2004] for $13.49
full credits from IMDb
official movie website
Kill Bill Unofficial Casebook  
"Kill Bill: An Unofficial Casebook" [2005]
by D.K. Holm

Glitter Books pb [2/2005] for $17.95
Hanzo Swords {with many models from the movie}
16 'Kill Bill' swords at Amazon Sports & Outdoors

"Lady  Snowblood"
aka 'Shurayukihime'  [Toho Japan 1973]
Lady Snowblood movie   A young girl whose mother dies in prison during childbirth is trained by a martial priest for revenge against the four men who killed her mother's husband and then raped her mother and left her for dead. Directed by Toshiya Fujita; based on the manga comics of Kazuo Kamimura & Kazuo Koike; starring Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa & Ko Nishimura
Animeigo color widescreen DVD [5/2004] for $29.98
Animeigo color widescreen VHS [11/97] out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDb

sequel  "Love  Song  of  Vengeance"
aka 'Shura-yuki-hime: Urami Renga' [Toho Japan 1974]
Love Song of Vengeance movie   Sentenced to death for her crimes (in the prequel), Lady Snowblood is rescued by the secret police, who offer a deal to assassinate some revolutionaries. Directed by Toshiya Fujita; based on the manga comics of Kazuo Kamimura & Kazuo Koike; starring Meiko Kaji, Yoshio Harada, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Shin Kishida & Juzo Itami
Animeigo color widescreen DVD [5/2004] for $26.99
Animeigo color VHS [3/98] out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDb

"Lady Snowblood" DVD box set [2005]
Animeigo color widescreen DVD set [11/2005] 2 disks - out of prodn/used

Lady Snowblood manga & film entry at Wikipedia

Lady Snowblood manga comics   "Lady Snowblood" manga comics [originals in 1970s, English 2005-2006]
by Kazuo Koike, illustrated by Kazuo Kamimura

Volume 1: Dark Horse 7¼x5 pb [10/2005] for $10.17
Volume 2: Dark Horse 7¼x5 pb [1/2006] for $10.17
Volume 3: Dark Horse 7¼x5 pb [4/2006] for $10.17
Volume 4: Dark Horse 7¼x5 pb [6/2006] for $10.17

"The  Last  Samurai"
[Warner Bros. Dec 2003]
Last Samurai poster   Co-written & directed by Edward Zwick; co-written by John Logan & Marshall Herskovitz; starring Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Timothy Spall, Hiroyuki Sanada & Koyuki; Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound
Warner widescreen DVD [5/2004] 2 disks for $19.47
Warner color DVD [5/2004] 2 disks for $19.47
Warner VHS dubbed in Spanish [5/2004] out of stock/used
Warner color VHS [5/2004] priced for rental market
Elektra/Asylum soundtrack CD [11/2003] for $13.49
full credits from IMDb
official movie website
Last Samurai Guide  
"The Last Samurai: The Official Movie Guide" [2003]
from Warner Bros. Pictures

General 10¼x9½ pb [12/2003] for $10.47
General 10¾x9¾ hardcover [12/2003] for $24.95
Takamori / Ravina   "The Last Samurai: The Life & Battles of Saigo Takamori" [2003]
by Mark Ravina

The true story of the warrior rebel depicted inaccurately in the movie.
John Wiley & Sons 9x6.3 pb [11/2003] for $16.97

"Rebel  Samurai  Collection"
Rebel Samurai Collection videos   Criterion b&w/color DVD [10/2005] for $89.99

Four 'Sixties Swordplay Classics' that include Hideo Gosha's "Sword of the Beast" [1965]; Masahiro Shinoda's "Samurai Spy" [1965]; Masaki Kobayashi's "Samurai Rebellion" [1967] starring Toshirô Mifune; and Kihachi Okamoto's "Kill!" [1968] starring Tatsuya Nakadai & Etsushi Takahashi – each also on this page as individual films

"Red  Lion" aka 'Akage'
[Mifune/Toho Japan Oct 1969, USA Dec 1969]
Akage / Red Lion poster   Impersonating an Imperial Army officer by wearing a "red lion's mane", a simple servant returns to his village after 10 years of absence to end the village's suffering caused by corrupt officials and businessmen. Co-written & directed by Kihachi Okamoto; starring Toshirô Mifune, Shima Iwashita, Etsushi Takahashi, Minori Terada, Nobuko Otowa, Kawai Okada, Yûko Mochizuki & Jitsuko Yoshimura
Animeigo widescreen color DVD [9/2005] for $26.99
Animeigo color VHS [11/97] out of prodn/used
full credits at IMDb

"Rônin  Gai" [Shochiku/Nippon TV Aug 1990]
Rônin Gai samurai movie   Peace under the shogun leaves many samurai unemployed. Four ronin in a depressed village struggle to maintain their bushi-do code until prostitutes under seige by a serial killer ask for their help. Directed by Kazuo Kuroki; starring Yoshio Harada, Kanako Higuchi, Shintarô Katsu, Moeko Ezawa, Hiroko Isayama, Renji Ishibashi & Kunie Tanaka; won Japanese Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (RI), 5 other noms
Homevision widescreen color DVD [6/2005] for $21.99
full credits from IMDb

"Samurai  Assassin"
[Mifune/Toho Japan Jan 1965, USA March 1965]
Samurai Assassin samurai movie  Based on a novel about real events in February & March 1860. A band of men wait by Edo's Sakurada Gate to kill a government official. They suspect a traitor in their midst, and focus on an impoverished rônin (and bastard son of an aristocrat) who is befriended by one of the leaders. Directed by Kihachi Okamoto; starring Toshirô Mifune, Keiju Kobayashi, Yûnosuke Itô, Koshiro Matsumoto, Eijirô Tono & Michiyo Aratama
Anameigo widescreen color DVD [2/2005] for $26.99
Anameigo widescreen color VHS [9/98] out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDb

"Samurai  Banners" aka 'Furin Kazan'
[Mifune/Toho Japan Feb 1969, USA June 1969]
Samurai Banners movie   A samurai general dreams of uniting the Kai & Suwa domains. He convinces the widow of the Suwa lord to marry the victorious Kai lord and bear him a son, and pledges them his life. Years later, the powerful forces of Echigo domain challenge the peaceful Kai-Suwa regime.
Co-produced & directed by Hiroshi Inagaki; based on the Yasushi Inoue novel; co-produced by & starring Toshirô Mifune; co-starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Yoshiko Sakuma, Yûjirô Ishihara, Katsuo Nakamura, Kankuro Nakamura, Kanemon Nakamura, Masakazu Tamura, Mayumi Ozora & Ken Ogata
Animeigo widescreen color DVD [7/2005] for $26.99
Animeigo widescreen color VHS [1/98] out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDb

"Samurai  Fiction"  [Japan Aug 1998, USA Oct 1998]
Samurai Fiction movie   A young noble and two friends attempt to retrieve the stolen heirloom sword of their clan; the enemy leader wounds the noble and kills one pal, and the noble recovers at the remote forest home of a former samurai and his daughter. Co-written & directed by Hiroyuki Nakano; starring Mitsuru Fukikoshi, rock star Tomoyasu Hotei, Naoyuki Fujii, Ken Osawa, Morio Kazama, Tamaki Ogawa, Mari Natsuki, Mitsuru Fukikoshi & Taketoshi Naitô
Media Blasters color DVD [9/2003] for $26.99
full credits from IMDb

"Samurai  Rebellion" aka 'Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu'
[Toho/Mifune Japan May 1967, USA Sept 1967]
Samurai Rebellion video   The son of an aging samurai is ordered to marry the local lord's mistress, though she has born the lord a son. The newlyweds fall in love. When the lord's elder son dies, and he demands that the mistress return with his heir, the samurai rebels. The clan orders suicide, then attempts to kill the family, and the samurai takes the matter to the capitol at Edo. Directed by Masaki Kobayashi; starring Toshirô Mifune, Yôko Tsukasa, Tatsuyoshi Ehara, Etsuko Ichihara, Tatsuya Nakadai, Shigeru Kôyama, Michiko Otsuka, Tatsuo Matsumura & Isao Yamagata
Criterion widescreen b&w DVD [10/2005] for $26.99
Homevision b&w VHS [6/2000] for $28.45
full credits from IMDb

"Samurai  Spy" aka 'Ibun Sarutobi Sasuke' [Shochiku 1965]
Samurai Spy movie   A legendary samurai tracks the spy Nojiri, not knowing that a mysterious band of men are also tracking the spy; when the two factions meet, no one knows who is who. Directed by Masahiro Shinoda; based on the Koji Nakada novel; starring Koji Takahashi, Tetsuro Tamba, Kei Sato & Rokko Toura
Criterion b&w widescreen DVD [10/2005] for $26.99
full credits from IMDb

"Sanjuro"  aka 'Tsubaki Sanjûrô'
[Japan Jan 1962; US release May 1963]
Sanjuro   A sequel to "Yojimbo"; a group of determined, idealistic young men enlist a scruffy, cynical samurai to clean up their town. Co-written & directed by Akira Kurosawa; starring Toshirô Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Takashi Shimura & Kamatari Fujiwara
Criterion widescreen b&w DVD [1/2007] for $34.99
Home Vision letterbox b&w DVD [9/99] for $26.99
Home Vision widescreen b&w VHS [3/95] for $29.95
full credits from IMDb

"Seven  Samurai" aka 'Shichinin no samurai'
[Japan April 1954; USA Nov 1956]
Seven Samurai   Now considered a classic movie. Poor farmers hire a samurai to defend their village from bandits. He brings along six others, who defend the village against 40 attackers in a climactic, epic battle. Co-written & directed by Akira Kurosawa [1910-98]; starring Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Minoru Chiaki, Daisuke Katô, Seiji Miyaguchi & Isao Kimura
Criterion remastered b&w DVD [9/2006] 3 disks for $42.99
Home Vision b&w DVD [3/99] for $31.99
Home Vision b&w VHS [7/93] 2 tapes / out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDbmovie entry at Wikipedia

more details (synopses, remakes & sequels, books, posters, links) on
Magic Lantern's "Seven Samurai" & "Magnificent Seven" Movies Page

"Sword  of  Doom"  aka 'Dai-bosatsu tôge'
[Toho Japan Jan 1966, USA July 1966]
Sword of Doom movie   A mad samurai with an unbeatable 'silent style' wreaks havoc over several years. Action highlights include Mifune's fight in the snow and the final bloodbath in a burning building. Directed by Kihachi Okamoto; written by Shinobu Hashimoto from a novel by Kaizan Nakazato; starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Yuzo Kayama, Michiyo Aratama, Toshirô Mifune, Yôko Naito, Tadao Nakamaru & Ichirô Nakaya
Criterion Collxn widescreen DVD [3/2005] for $22.46
Home Vision widescreen b&w VHS [3/95] for $29.95
full credits from IMDb

"Sword  of  The  Beast"  [Shochiku 1965]
Sword of the Beast movie   A reformer on the run after assassinating a clan minister finds a master swordsman willing to defend him. Co-written & directed by Hideo Gosha; starring Mikijiro Hira & Go Kato
Criterion b&w widescreen DVD [10/2005] for $26.99
full credits from IMDb

"Twilight  Samurai"  aka 'Tasogare Seibei'
[Japan 2002, USA April 2004]
Twilight Samurai poster   A quiet, slightly sentimental masterpiece, about a feudal village of 19th Century Japan phasing into the new ethos & economics of the Meiji Restoration. Co-Written & directed by Yoji Yamada; based on sections of 3 Shuhei Fujisawa novels; starring Hiroyuki Sanada, Rie Miyazawa, Min Tanaka, Nenji Kobayashi & Keiko Kishi; Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film; won 12 Japan Film Academy Awards, won 7 Kinema Junpo Awards
Empire Pictures color DVD [12/2004] for $19.99
full credits from IMDb
official movie website

"When  The  Last  Sword  Is  Drawn"
aka 'Mibu gishi den' [Shoshiku Japan Jan 2003]
When The Last Sword Is Drawn  An underpaid samurai goes to Edo to make enough money to support his family; fellow members of the Imperial Guard consider him a mere mercenary until he proves his honor in battle. Directed by Yojiro Takita; starring Kiichi Nakai, Koichi Sato, Yui Natsukawa, Takehiro Murata, Miki Nakatani & Yuji Miyake; won Japanese Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Actor {Nakai}, Best Supporting Actor {Sato}, 8 other noms
Fox Lorber widescreen color DVD [12/2005] for $17.99
full credits from IMDb

"Yojimbo"  ('The Bodyguard')
[April 1961; US release Oct 1962]
Yojimbo   Prequel to "Sanjuro": A wandering samurai plays off two gangs against each other; based on the 1929 novel "Red Harvest" by Dashiell Hammett. Co-written & directed by Akira Kurosawa [1910-98]; starring Toshirô Mifune, Eijirô Tono, Seizaburô Kawazu, Kyu Sazanka, Kamatari Fujiwara, Takashi Shimura & Tatsuya Nakadai; listed on Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Movies (10/2005)
Home Vision widescreem b&w VHS [9/94] for $29.95
Home Vision widescreem b&w DVD [9/99] for $25.49
full credits from IMDb
remade as Western "A Fistful of Dollars" [1964]
movie & sequels on VHS & DVDfull credits from IMDb
remade as "Last Man Standing" [1996]
on VHS & DVDfull credits from IMDb



Documentary  Videos

Nova: Secrets of The Samurai Sword documentary   "Secrets of The Samurai Sword"
[P.B.S./W.G.B.H./Nova documentary aired Oct 2007]

Directed by John Wate
P.B.S./W.G.B.H. widescreen color DVD [1/2008] for $17.99
not listed at IMDb {2008} • PBS official movie site
History Matters The Samurai video from A&E  "History Matters: The Samurai" [A&E TV April 2005]
A&E Television Networks color DVD [7/2008] for $29.95  
minimal credits from IMDb
Samurai / Last Warriors documentary   "Samurai: The Last Warrior - The Path of Honor, The Sword of Revenge"
TV documentary [indep 2004]

Co-produced, written & directed by Charlie Shepard
Hannover House color DVD [3/2005] for $9.95
full credits from IMDb
Code of the Samurai video   "Code of The Samurai: Cult of Cold Steel" [2004]
Presented by George W. Alexander; directed by Y. Ishimoto
Rising Sun Prodns color DVD [2/2004] for $29.95
producers official website
Sword Cuts of Miyamoto Musashi   "The Eight Deadly Samurai Sword Cuts of Miyamoto Musashi" [2004]
by George Alexander

Boxed Set: Yamazato color DVD [12/2004] 3 disks for $99.95
Vol 1: Yamazato color DVD [9/2004] for $39.95
Vol 2: Yamazato color DVD [11/2004] for $39.95
Vol 3: Yamazato color DVD [11/2004] for $39.95
Art of the Samurai   "Japanese Swordsmanship" [2003-2004]
Volume 1: "The Art of The Samurai" [2003] featuring Hanshi Ken Penland
Yamazato color DVD [3/2003] for $24.95
Volume 2: "Iaido - The Art of Fast Draw!" [2004] featuring Hanshi Ken Penland
Yamazato color DVD [9/2004] for $29.95
Volume 3: "Tameshigiri - The Art of Cutting" [2004] featuring George Alexander
Yamazato color DVD [12/2004] for $29.95
In Search of History Samurai Warrior video from A&E  
"In Search of History: Samurai Warrior" [A&E TV 1997]
A&E Television Networks color DVD [7/2008] for $24.95  
A&E Television Networks color DVD [undated] out of prodn/used
not listed on IMDb



Books

Sun Tzu & the Art of War [circa 500 BCE]
at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore

Hagakure   "Hagakure: The Book of The Samurai" [Sept 1716]
by Yamamoto Tsunetomo; translated by William Scott Wilson

Kodansha Intl pb [3/92] for $9.00
Kodansha Intl hardcover [10/79] out of print/used
Bushido   "Bushido: The Way of The Samurai"
Based on the 'Hagakure' by Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Edited by Justin F. Stone; translated by Minoru Tanaka

Square One 8½x5½ pb [10/2001] for $9.95
Samurai Sword Handbook   "Samurai Sword: A Handbook" [1958]
by John M. Yumoto

Tuttle 8½x6¼ hardcover [6/72] for $14.93
Bokken / Japanese Sword   "Bokken: Art of The Japanese Sword" [1980]
by Dave Lowry

Ohara Publns 9x6 pb [6/80] for $11.90

The 'bokken' is the wooden practice sword of Japanese martial arts.
bokken for sale online at Amazon Sports & Outdoors

Japanese Sword by KSato   "The Japanese Sword: A Comprehensive Guide" [1983]
by Kanzan Sato, translation by Joe Earle

Kodansha America 10¼x7 hardcover [6/83] for $26.40
Way of the Samurai   "The Way of The Samurai" [1983]
by Richard Storry, with photographs by Werner Forman

Salem House 11½x8½ hardcover [1/86] out of print/used
Putnam hardcover pb [10/83] out of print/used
The Samurai Film   "The Samurai Film" [1984] by Alain Silver
Overlook 10x6¾ pb [6/86] for $11.01
Overlook 10x7¾ pb [10/2006] for $20.40
Overlook hardcover [3/84] for $23.95
Overlook 10x8 hardcover [11/2005] for $34.00
Japanese Swordsmanship Manual   "The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship: A Manual of Eishin-Ryu Iaido" [1994]
by Nicklaus Suino

Weatherhill pb [6/94] for $16.47
Craft of The Japanese Sword   "The Craft of The Japanese Sword" [1997]
by Leon & Hiroko Kapp and Yoshindo Yoshihara

Kodansha Intl. 10¼x7½ hardcover [7/97] for $23.58
Japanese / Handbook   "Japanese Cinema: The Essential Handbook" [1998]
by Thomas Weisser & Yuko Mihara Weisser

Vital Books 8¼x5.4 pb [8/98] for $13.97
Code of the Samurai   "Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of The Bushido Shoshinsu by Taira Shigesuke" [1999]
Translation by Thomas Cleary, illustrated by Oscar Ratti

Tuttle 7¾x5¼ hardcover [7/99] for $10.47
Samurai Weapons & Spirit  "Samurai: The Weapons & Spirit of The Japanese Warrior" [2001]
by Clive Sinclaire

Lyons Press 11x10¼ pb [11/2004] for $14.93
Lyons Press 11¼x10½ hardcover [11/2001] out of print/used
Japanese / 100 Years   "A Hundred Years of Japanese Film" [2002]
by Donald Richie

Kodansha 8.4x7 hardcover [2/2002] for $21.00
Samurai / Illustrated History   "Samurai: An Illustrated History" [2002]
by Mitsuo Kure

Tuttle 12½x9.3 hardcover [5/2002] for $23.77
Iaido Sword / Kamimoto-Ha Techniques   "Iaido Sword: Kamimoto-Ha Techniques of Muso Shinden Ryu"
[2003] by Richard Babin

Paladin Press 11¼x8¾ pb [1/2003] for $32.97
World of the Warrior   "Samurai: The World of The Warrior" [2003]
by Stephen Turnbull

Osprey 9½x7½ pb [6/2006] for $12.89
Osprey 10¼x7¾ hardcover [10/2003] for $22.76
Silver Screen Samurai (posters)   "Silver Screen Samurai: The Best of Japan's Samurai Movie Posters" [2004]
by Cocoro Books of Japan

D.H. Publng 10¼x8 pb [2/2004] for $15.56
Samurai Film Handbook   "Stray Dogs & Lone Wolves: The Samurai Film Handbook" [2005]
by Patrick Galloway

Stone Bridge Press 9x7 pb [5/2005] for $14.96
Chasing Dragons Introduction to the Martial Arts Film book by David West   "Chasing Dragons: An Introduction To The Martial Arts Film" [2006]
by David West

St. Martin / I.B. Tauris 8½x5½ pb [12/2006] for $17.12
Samurai Arms Armor Costume   "Samurai: Arms, Armor, Costume" [2007]
by Mitsuo Kure

Chartwell Books 12x9 hardcover [3/2007] for $14.79
Japanese Period Film book by S.A. Thornton   "The Japanese Period Film: A Critical Analysis" [2007]
by S.A. Thornton, Foreword by Donald Richie

McFarland & Co. 9x6 pb [10/2007] for $35.95
Katana Book of Japanese Blades   "Katana: The Book of Japanese Blades" [2007]
seems to be a combination coffee table picture book and a catalog with prices
D.H. Publng 11x8½ hardcover [11/2007] for $19.46
Samurai Films book by Roland Thorne   "Samurai Films" [2008]
by Roland Thorne

Oldcastle Books pb [11/2008] for $11.53

Samurai  Film  Links

foreign movie poster catalog at AllPosters [dot] com
Foreign Films [dot] com
Independent Film Channel 'Samurai Saturdays' schedule

samurai swords & bokken & other gear at Amazon Sports & Outdoors

Samurai / Period Drama Films entry at Wikipedia
Yakuza Films entry at Wikipedia

a really funny samurai movie image (in a new window)

woodcut of samurai with lance

Visit Our Other Online Film Festival Pages
Afro-American Film Festival Page at Magic Lantern
Atomic Film Festival Page at Spirit of America
Ayn Rand Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Beatnik Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Existentialist Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Films Noir Festival at BlackHat Mystery Bookstore
Gangster Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Human Rights Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Movie Musicals Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Oscar-Winning Western Movies Page at 'Readers of the Purple Sage'
Philosophy Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Pirate Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Political Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Railroad Film Festival at Spirit of America
Samurai Films at Magic Lantern {you are here}
'Shakespeare On Film' at Magic Lantern
Sherlock Holmes Film Festival at BlackHat Mystery Bookstore
Sports Film Festival Pages at Magic Lantern
War [& Anti-War] Film Festival Pages at Magic Lantern
Western Movies Film Festival at 'Readers of the Purple Sage'

... and others on the Online Film Festivals Index Page

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Online sales in association with  Martial Arts Movies catalog at Amazon   and   samurai posters catalog at AllPosters.com

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