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Takashi Shimura: The Chameleon of Japanese Cinema

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Takashi Shimura was one of the most versatile and prolific actors in Japanese cinema, appearing in over 240 films during his six-decade career. He was known for his ability to play a wide range of characters, from samurai to gangsters to ordinary working-class people. Shimura's most famous roles include the title character in Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, the elderly doctor in Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story, and the detective in Seijun Suzuki's Branded to Kill.

Takashi Shimura: Chameleon of Japanese Cinema

by Scott Allen Nollen

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	294 pages

Early Life and Career

Takashi Shimura was born on March 12, 1905, in the city of Ikuno, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He began his acting career in 1927, when he joined the Shochiku Film Company. He initially played small roles, but he gradually gained recognition for his talent and versatility. In the 1930s, Shimura began to appear in more prominent roles, including the lead role in the 1937 film Humanity and Balloons. He also appeared in several films directed by Akira Kurosawa, including Sanshiro Sugata (1943) and The Idiot (1951).

Collaboration with Akira Kurosawa

Shimura's most famous collaboration with Kurosawa was on the 1954 film Seven Samurai. In this film, Shimura played the role of Kambei Shimada, a veteran samurai who leads a group of seven samurai to defend a village from a group of bandits. Shimura's performance in this film was widely praised, and he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to appear in several more of Kurosawa's films, including Throne of Blood (1957),The Hidden Fortress (1958),and Yojimbo (1961).

Later Career

In the 1960s and 1970s, Shimura continued to appear in a wide range of films. He starred in several films directed by Yasujiro Ozu, including Tokyo Story (1953),Early Summer (1951),and Late Autumn (1960). He also appeared in several films directed by Seijun Suzuki, including Branded to Kill (1967) and Tokyo Drifter (1966). In the 1980s, Shimura appeared in several films directed by Shohei Imamura, including The Ballad of Narayama (1983) and Zegen (1987).

Legacy

Takashi Shimura died on February 11, 1982, at the age of 76. He is considered one of the greatest actors in Japanese cinema history. He was known for his versatility, his ability to play a wide range of characters, and his subtle and nuanced performances. Shimura's work has been praised by critics and audiences alike, and he continues to be an inspiration to actors and filmmakers around the world.

Filmography

Humanity and Balloons (1937)
Sanshiro Sugata (1943)
The Idiot (1951)
Seven Samurai (1954)
Throne of Blood (1957)
The Hidden Fortress (1958)
Yojimbo (1961)
Tokyo Story (1953)
Early Summer (1951)
Late Autumn (1960)
Branded to Kill (1967)
Tokyo Drifter (1966)
The Ballad of Narayama (1983)
Zegen (1987)

Awards and Nominations

* Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated) - Seven Samurai (1954) * Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor - Tokyo Story (1953) * Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor - Seven Samurai (1954) * Kinema Junpo Award for Best Actor - Seven Samurai (1954) * National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor - Seven Samurai (1954) * New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor - Seven Samurai (1954) * Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actor - Throne of Blood (1957) * British Academy Film Award for Best Foreign Actor (nominated) - Seven Samurai (1956) * Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated) - Seven Samurai (1956) * Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor - Seven Samurai (1957) * Moscow International Film Festival Special Prize - Seven Samurai (1958) * BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor (nominated) - Throne of Blood (1959) * Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film (nominated) - Throne of Blood (1959) * Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actor (nominated) - Yojimbo (1961) * Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear for Best Actor (nominated) - Branded to Kill (1967) * National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated) - Branded to Kill (1968) * Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated) - Branded to Kill (1968) * New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated) - Branded to Kill (1968)