Three Outlaw Samurai – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1964
Director: Hideo Gosha
Writers: Keiichi Abe, Eizaburo Shiba, Hideo Gosha
Cast: Tetsuro Tamba, Isamu Nagato, Mikijirō Hira, Miyuki Kuwano, Yoshiko Kayama, Toshie Kimura, Yōko Mihara

Release Date: February 14th, 2012
Approximate Running Time: 93 Minutes 57 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"A wandering, seen-it-all ronin (Tetsuro Tamba) becomes entangled in the dangerous business of two other samurai (Isamu Nagato and Mikijiro Hira), hired to execute a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of a corrupt magistrate." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "This new high-definition digital transfer was created on a Spirit Datacine from a 35 mm print struck from the original negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker were manually removed using MTT’s DRS and Pixel Farms PFClean, while Image Systems’ DVNR was used for small dirt, grain, and noise reduction.” 

Three Outlaw Samurai comes on a 50 GBdual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 26.5 GB

Feature: 25.6 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, black levels are strong, image clarity and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles) and a 16-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled The Disloyal Bunch written by Bilge Ebiri, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Three Outlaw Samurai was the directorial debut of Hideo Gosha, a filmmaker best known for directing samurai films. His notable films include Goyokin, The Wolves, Violent Streets, and Hunter in the Dark. Two years after its release, Three Outlaw Samurai would be remanded in Hong Kong as The Magnificent Trio.

Three samurai join farmers in the fight against a ruthless magistrate.

For his first film, Hideo Gosha would explore revenge, redemption, guilt, betrayal, and loyalty, themes he would often return to throughout his career. Three Outlaws Samurai does a phenomenal job drawing you in to the story that's unfolding. There are several alliances forged and broken along the way, leading to a bloody, carnage-filled finale where three samurai join forces against an evil magistrate and his assassins.

Even at this early stage of his career, Hideo Gosha showcases his ability to create tense moments. The most prominent of these are the scenes that take place at an isolated mill where a magistrate’s daughter is being held prisoner by three peasant farmers and a samurai named Sakon Shiba. Despite being greatly outnumbered, Sakon Shiba’s exceptional sword skills and leadership help them fend off numerous attacks. The most memorable moment is a scene where Sakon Shiba accepts punishment for all those involved, and he is mercilessly whipped 100 times.

All around, the cast are excellent, especially the three leads: Tetsuro Tamba (You Only Live Twice), Isamu Nagato (Bloodstained Clad Honor), and Mikijirō Hira (The Face of Another). Tetsuro Tamba portrays Sakon Shiba, a wandering samurai who becomes entangled in a clash between peasant farmers and their oppressor. Isamu Nagato portrays a vagabond samurai, and Mikijirō Hira portrays a layabout samurai for hire. One notable strength of the performances is the depth given to the female characters; they are not merely background figures.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Three Outlaw Samurai does not excel. The premise is superbly realized, and a well-executed move briskly builds to its finale. The fight scenes are exceptional, showcasing well-crafted moments of tension where characters effectively utilize their surroundings while confronting overwhelming challenges. Ultimately, Three Outlaw Samurai skillfully blends exposition with action, offering a wealth of social commentary that sets it apart from typical genre offerings.

The Criterion Collection gives Three Outlaw Samurai a solid audio/video presentation; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer