Tetsukono Heya/Tetsuko's Room: Toshiro Mifune (1981)

Included (strangely) on the latest Criterion issue of 1963's High And Low, is a 1981 interview conducted by host Tetsuko Kuroyanagi for her talk show, Tetsuko's Room. As Mifune rarely participated in filmed interviews, this is something of a unique experience - and though he doesn't speak about High And Low specifically, it is an entertaining interview that touches upon several points in the actor's career. Among other topics, Mifune discusses his rather turbulent childhood, time spent in the military, and his working relationship with Kurosawa, not to mention projects like Shogun. Die-hard fans of the actor might not learn much new, but it's great to hear Mifune speak so candidly about his life and career. Randy Miller III

Included with High And Low is a half hour interview with actor Toshiro Mifune that was conducted in 1981 for the talk show Tetsuko's Room. Mifune rarely ever made himself available for interviews, so the one included here is a fairly rare treat for fans. As one might expect from the prestigious actor, he is a very elegant speaker and truly knows nearly every angle of the productions he's involved with, while at the same time conveying a modest tone. Host Tetsuko Kuroyanagi and Mifune talk about a variety of topics, including his beginnings as an actor at Toho, how he originally had planned to be involved with photography before taking on a job in front of the camera, and the length of his trousers. The actor also discusses his pre-acting history, being born in China before coming to Japan, and his stint in the military. In regards to the film work discussed, Mifune doesn't talk about High And Low in particular, and tends to speak more about the international involvement. Some of Kurosawa's other projects and Mifune's roles in them are discussed, such as Seven Samurai (1954). That said, it's endearing to hear Mifune pause before saying terms in English, such as "50 million dollars", which he says perfectly, and other aspects that make it a joy for fans of the actor to experience. tohokingdom.com










Find other Kurosawa/Criterion DVD extras here:
Seven Samurai, The Bad Sleep Well, High And Low, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Kagemusha and Ran.

Check my other posts for these. LD.