Review of Throne of Blood (1957) by Wildaly M — 09 Jul 2011

As a classic staple of theater, Shakespeare's Macbeth is well-known in plot and general character development. What makes any good adaptation stand out is not the simple adherence to the source material, but a willingness to shape and transmogrify what is already given to the filmmaker and to make it his own.

Thanks in large part to Kurosawa's incomparable stylistic abilities, the movie is dripping in atmosphere; the sickly fog seemingly permeates every corner of the frame and the desolate landscapes provide all the environmental symbolism the film needs.

Mifune does wonders as the Japanese Macbeth, alternately weak and defiant, his portrayal is passionate above all else. The shots are fantastic and the ending something to behold. It is a strong production of Macbeth, but the inclusion of Japanese-theater type style (particularly in Lady Macbeth) weakened some of the story's impact.

Lady Macbeth is more a spectral figure than a power-hungry missus; this stylistic decision is one of the rare times where style usurps story rather than Kurosawa's typical ability to make the two effortlessly combine.

Fusing two cultures together invariably makes something worth discussing and this cinematic effort is no exception.