(Japan, 1963, 96 minutes, b/w, Japanese with English subtitles) Directed by Akira Kurosawa. In this all-time samurai classic, a jaded, lazy older warrior, played by Toshiro Mifune, mentors a group of inexperienced samurai in their battles with corrupt clan leaders. The film helped to invent a new breed of cynical, untrustworthy heroes who would live on in countless action films throughout the world. ALTERNATE EXPLANATION: With SANJURO, and its earlier companion piece YOJIMBO (1961), influential director Akira Kurosawa invented a certain breed of cynical, untrustworthy hero who would live on in numberless action films throughout the world. A jaded, lazy older warrior, played by movie legend Toshiro Mifune, agrees to mentor a group of inexperienced samurai in their battles with corrupt clan leaders. POP OUT!