Review of Drunken Angel (1948) by Daniel M — 21 Oct 2008
I'm a great fan of Kurosawa, so it was with great joy that I was finally able to watch his 1948 classic. Drunken Angel is remembered for being Kurosawa's first collaboration with the great Toshiro Mifune, a volatile and fruitful relationship that would make movie history.
Drunken Angel is Kurosawa's fifth directoral film, but in many ways it feels like "the first Kurosawa movie." This is the first project which is entirely his own creation, where his emerging style comes into its own. It also happens to be a terrific picture in its own right, a story of the relationship between an alcoholic doctor (the great Takashi Shimura) and Mifune's tubucular gangster. Bitter social commentary on Japan's postwar occupation and the emerging American cultural influence shows Kurosawa's moral conscience, a voice that will be heard in Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, Ran, and countless other films.
A terrific movie, one not to be missed. It's Kurosawa. What more do you want?
This review of Drunken Angel (1948) was written by Daniel M on 21 Oct 2008.
Drunken Angel has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
