The Many Faces Of Toshiro Mifune

On this day, which would have been his 100th birthday if the world were a fair and just place, we present a gallery of photographs of a man who was not only one of the great actors of the screen – but also an undeniably great movie star: Toshiro Mifune. The camera loves some people more than others, and you can see which side of that equation Mifune falls on. In an era when Americans and Europeans were the major male screen sex symbols, Mifune brought a force and authority that arguably blew them all away. So, obviously, watch all his movies, but until then, enjoy the magic of Mifune.

This is the pissed-off Mifune who thrilled arthouse audiences as a man of war or bandit starting in the 1950’s.

But prior to that, he had been a smoldering young romantic figure in films like his first, 1947’s SNOW TRAIL.

And had appeared in modern crime films like Akira Kurosawa’s STRAY DOG (1949).

By 1958’s THE HIDDEN FORTRESS he was an established screen figure, and an actor at the top of his game.

Here he is relaxing at home.

Here he is pretending to relax in a photo studio.

Here he is smoking a cigarette like it owes him money. Don’t smoke, but let’s admit that it looks cool.

And here he is in the last collaboration with Akira Kurosawa, RED BEARD (1965), proof that shaving is a complete waste of time.