Akira Kurosawa’s Throne Of Blood Getting 4K Upgrade
The BFI sweep through Japanese film auteur Akira Kurosawa‘s filmography continues in May. They will release Throne Of Blood on 4K UHD and standard Blu-ray formats.
This new restoration of Kurosawa’s astonishing film, Throne of Blood, is widely considered to be one of the greatest adaptations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The BFI will includes the following Special features include a 2002 documentary about the making of the film that includes interviews with the director, cast and crew and an audio commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck.
A truly remarkable work, Throne of Blood manages to combine beauty and terror to produce a mood of haunting power. Starring the irrepressible Toshiro Mifune as doomed warlord Washizu, and with a wonderfully creepy turn by Isuzu Yamada as the Lady Macbeth-inspired Asaji, the film displays all of Kurosawa’s familiar mastery of atmosphere and action combined with the savagery of war.
Special features
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Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
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Introduction by Sir Ian McKellen (2016, 2 mins)
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Introduction to Throne of Blood by Mamoun Hassan (2012, 7 mins): the late writer, director and producer introduces a screening of Akira Kurosawa’s film at BFI Southbank
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Audio commentary by Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck
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Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Throne of Blood (2002, 23 mins): this documentary about the making of Throne of Blood features interviews with Akira Kurosawa, production designer Yoshiro Muraki, Noh performer Mitsuhiro Honda (from the Konparu School) and actor Isuzu Yamada
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Macbeth (1945, 16 mins): two scenes from Shakespeare’s famous Scottish tragedy, with Wilfrid Lawson and Cathleen Nesbitt as a fine murderous duo
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Original trailer
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***FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with writing on the film by Alex Barrett, an essay on Kurosawa’s adaptations of Shakespeare by Ben Nicholson, Kurosawa on Throne of Blood (1964) and an original review
UHD: 12 / Japan / 1957 / black and white / 110 minutes / Japanese language with optional English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.37:1 // UHD66: 2160p, 23.98fps, DTS-HD MA 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)
Blu-ray: 12/ Japan / 1957 / black and white / 110 minutes / Japanese language with optional English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.37:1 // BD50: 1080p, 23.98fps, DTS-HD MA 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)
Throne Of Blood will be released by the BFI on 4K UHD and Blu-ray from 19th May.
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