The Hidden Fortress 4K UHD bluray

New 4K restoration of Kurosawa's beloved classic.

The Hidden Fortress is an exciting blend of fairy tales and samurai action film about rival clans, hidden gold, and a princess in distress. It was Kurosawa's first film shot in the widescreen Tohoscope format, and he took full advantage of this in the film's rich variety of landscape settings, including the slopes of Mount Fuji.

The Hidden Fortress became Kurosawa's biggest box office hit to date and won several awards, including the Golden Bear at the 1959 Berlin Film Festival. About 20 years later, the film's influence would have an even greater impact on the world when George Lucas borrowed elements from the plot for the first film in his Star Wars series.

Extras

Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)

Newly recorded audio commentary by Japanese film expert Tony Rayns

BFI Screen Epiphanies: Steven Berkoff (2015, 18 min): in a wide-ranging discussion with journalist Ian Hadyn Smith, the actor, author, and theater director reflects on The Hidden Fortress, Toshiro Mifune's talent, and his first viewing of the film in the late 1950s. Hidden Fortress (2002, 41 min): documentary about the filming of The Hidden Fortress, with contributions from director Akira Kurosawa, set designer Yoshiro Muraki, actor Toshiro Mifune, and script editor Teruyo Nogami.

Interview with George Lucas (2001, 8 min)

Original trailer

**FIRST PRINTING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with a new essay on the film by Kenta McGrath, How Star Wars Conquered Cinema with the Help of The Hidden Fortress by Graham Hughes, Kurosawa on The Hidden Fortress (1964), and an original review. Subtitles English