Yojimbo (1961) ft. Myke Emal
Dana and Tom with guest, Myke Emal (Host and Creator of the Cinemusts podcast), discuss Yojimbo (1961) for its 65th anniversary: written and directed by Akira Kurosawa with Ryūzō Kikushima and Hideo Oguni, cinematography by Kazuo Miyagawa, music by Masaru Sato, editing by Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshiro Mifune, Eijirō Tōno, Tatsuya Nakadai, and Daisuke Katō.
Plot Summary: In a small, lawless town divided by two rival gangs, Toshiro Mifune plays a wandering ronin who sees an opportunity. Pretending to work for both sides, he tricks each gang into fighting the other, hoping to wipe them out and bring peace to the town. As his plan unfolds, the violence grows, and innocent people are caught in the middle.
The ronin must rely on his intelligence and sword skills to survive as both gangs begin to suspect his true intentions. In the end, he faces the consequences of his dangerous game while trying to restore some sense of justice.
Guest:
Myke Emal
- Host and Creator of the Cinemusts podcast
- @cinemusts on Twitter, Letterboxd, Facebook, and IG
- Previously on Anatomy of a Murder (1959), Sabotage (1936)
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Yojimbo
05:59 Welcome Back, Myke Emal!
06:46 Getting Into Yojimbo
10:48 Is the Divided Town Symbolic of Anything?
12:55 Endorsement of Violence?
18:05 Dana's War Stories
19:48 Plot Summary for Yojimbo
20:37 What is Yojimbo About?
21:39 Did You Know?
27:35 First Break
28:18 What's Happening with Myke Emal?
29:49 Best Performance(s)
42:17 Best Scene(s)
48:51 Second Break
52:18 In Memoriam
55:36 Best/Funniest Lines
57:57 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
01:04:56 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
01:09:16 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
01:16:13 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
01:22:36 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
01:26:39 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
01:29:54 Remaining Questions for Yojimbo
01:37:29 Thank You to Myke and Final Thoughts
01:42:56 Credits
You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/yojimbo-1961-ft-myke-emal
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
Yojimbo, Kurosawa, Samurai Films, Cinematography, Film Influence, Western Adaptations, Film Analysis, film legacy, cinema influence, Japanese cinema, film analysis, rewatchability, film impact, classic films, film discussion
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