He wasn't the
'Japanese John Wayne' or the
'Asian Clint Eastwood', he was simply
Toshirô Mifune, so great an actor, so magnetic a presence, so virile a charisma that he was incomparable in the world and the history of cinema.
From his handsome young leading-man debut to his Samurai streak and finally his veteran days, the eternal partner of
Akira Kurosawa became a specialist in roles that showed the most ambiguous sides of humanity, facing ethical dilemmas through bravery, calculations, spirit or fear in contemporary life or ancient Japan.
In each role, he's brought an intensity and a versatility that enriched the screen and broadened the human experience, entertaining generations of movie lovers and making him one of the greatest actors who ever lived. His roles have included
Rashomon (1950),
Les 7 Samouraïs (1954),
Le Garde du corps (1961),
Sanjuro (1962) and
Barberousse (1965).
In homage to the Japanese legend, which of these pictures of Toshiro Mifune is your favorite?
After voting,
you might discuss the list here
