On August 11, 2025, BFI is releasing the 4K Ultra HD for The Hidden Fortress, a 1958 classic actioner from director Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai) that stars Toshiro Mifune (Stray Dog).
Presented in a New 4K Restoration, The Hidden Fortress is the story of rival clans, hidden gold and a princess in distress. It was Kurosawa’s first film shot in the widescreen process of Tohoscope, and he exploited this to the full in the film’s rich variety of landscape locations, 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. Some twenty years on, the film’s influence would have even greater impact on the world’s box office, when George Lucas borrowed elements of its plot for the first of his Star Wars series.
Features:
- FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet with a new essay on the film by Kenta McGrath
- Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Newly recorded audio commentary by Japanese-cinema expert Tony Rayns
- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Hidden Fortress (2002)
- Interview with George Lucas (2001, 8 mins)
- Original trailer
This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!
Watch the film’s U.S. Trailer:
