Eleven Samurai (十一人の侍)

A TOEI Production

ELEVEN SAMURAI

Producer: Shigeru Okada

Script: Kei Tasaka, Takeo Kunihiro, Norifumi Suzuki

Photography: Sadaji Yoshida

Music: Akira Ifukube Film set: Ryuji Tsukamoto

Starring:

Isao Natsuyagi

Kotaro Satomi

Koji Nambara

Eiko Okawa (Nui) Junko Miyazono (Orie)

Kei Sato (Minister Mizuno) Kantaro Suga (Lord Nariatsu)

Ko Nishimura

Ryutaro Otomo

Directed by Eiichi Kudo

What happened to the big game?

Nothing since this morning!

My lord!

I'm a true hunter!

Watch the border!

My lord!

Don't cross the border!

My lord!

Come back!

Border between Tatebayashi and Oshi territories

Scum!

Darling!

My lord! Come back!

I'm coming.

Wait!

Sir Nariatsu Tatebayashi, Why did you commit this act?

The fool was in my way.

He had it coming!

You are in Oshi.

You have no rights on my land.

Even though you've been adopted by Tatebayashi,

you still are the son of the former Shogun,

and the brother of the current Shogun.

Sir, this act is unworthy of your rank!

What?

But I'm willing to disregard it.

Leave my land.

My lord!

Mitamura, no!

Stay here!

Todo, wait!

Mitamura, no!

Chamberlain!

Don't do anything, Tatewaki!

My lord!

Edo Castle

This matter shattered the central government.

Oshi fief's complaint.

The former Shogun

and the current Shogun

ordered us

to take severe measures.

Minister Mizuno!

I fully agree with you.

As received from Tatewaki, Chamberlain of Oshi fief

this complaint explains it:

Nariatsu's cruel behavior

is unworthy of his rank.

It's obvious.

But...

listen to me.

Remember that Nariatsu

has the favours of his father, the former Shogun.

Suppose that Nariatsu

really acted as described in this complaint:

the Tokugawa clan

would lose its moral authority

over its supporting vassals.

Nariatsu would never act like that.

Indeed, his rank forbids him any form of violence.

Chamberlain Tatewaki of Oshi, wins the judgement.

Lord Abe of Oshi,

ignored border laws,

went to Tatebayashi and insulted Lord Nariatsu,

brother of the Shogun.

It's unforgivable!

Even more unforgivable,

you accused Nariatsu

of killing your lord,

even though his death was accidental.

Sir Mizuno!

Insolent wretch! Silence!

The Oshi fief have committed a serious offense.

Hereditary right to Oshi territory

is removed from Abe clan.

Oshi goes under Shogunal control.

It's not fair!

This verdict is unfair!

The Shogun has spoken!

Sir Mizuno...

Step back, insolent wretch!

I have a question.

The arrow shot into our lord

is proof.

What will you do about it?

Quiet.

Sir, at least, hear my request.

Speak.

Any convicted person has the right to a last request.

Here is mine!

Delay reporting the legal notice of the verdict

until the beginning of the end of the year festivities.

Why?

Because some vassals could act rashly

after learning about the dismantling of our clan.

Give me some time to prepare them to accept the verdict.

I ask you to give me a month.

If you refuse, then I'll also reject your verdict

by committing seppuku in front of you.

Is that a threat?

I accept delaying reporting the legal notice

of the verdict by a month.

One month, no more.

Let's act wisely.

If one of you tries something against Nariatsu,

we'll be subjected to retaliation from the central government

and Abe clan will be dissolved.

You must convince all our vassals

to overcome their desire for vengeance.

Punish any rash act with harakiri.

Understood?

I managed to climb like you asked me.

But how can I get back down?

Darling...

Can you help me instead of laughing?

Darling, I'm going to jump.

Are you ready?

Careful!

Tatewaki!

Lovebirds, as always.

My wife is still a child.

Right.

We're equally skilled with a sword, but when it comes to women,

you're better than me.

You found the best girl of our clan.

Tatewaki,

what brings you here?

We don't have the same social rank.

What is the Chamberlain doing at a small vassal's house?

It's hard to believe unless there's an important matter.

Tell me, Hayato,

what about a horse ride?

This verdict is more than unfair. It's illegal.

They had to prevent Nariatsu, brother of the Shogun, from being dishonored.

Mizuno knows it very well.

If our clan is brought down, our 500 vassals will become vagabonds.

Never mind the farmers.

Look over there, at the castle ruins.

From here, we can hear the moaning of a whole people.

The groans of the ones who came before us.

I'll keep the Shogun's verdict secret.

Nobody must know the fate of the clan.

Let's be discreet for the time being.

We still have a month before the verdict is enforced.

In the meanwhile, kill Nariatsu.

So, you're asking me to die.

Hayato...

I'll leave the clan and become a ronin.

Hayato!

If his brother is killed by a ronin,

the Shogun will hide the truth to save his honor.

He'll say that his brother passed away from an illness.

And if we're lucky,

our clan will be spared.

I'm proud of you.

If no one denounces the absurdity of this world,

then our descendants will keep suffering.

It's a desperate situation.

Someone has to do it. It will be me.

I need ten men to succeed.

Choose the ones you want.

Todo, over there,

will be our contact.

I'll talk to him.

There's a man we must wary of.

Tatebayashi's Chamberlain. His name is Gyobu.

He's the Shogun's former great inspector. A fearsome fighter.

Gyobu! You again?

I've been told about your intention to go to the capital city.

Is it true?

You need the Shogun's agreement.

Quiet!

Stop following me like a dog.

My lord!

Listen carefully.

Fukui, Owari, Kishu...

are the wealthy fiefs that my brothers inherited.

Whereas me...

I only inherited Tatebayashi.

Should I content myself with such a pathetic fief?

Yes, I'm going to Edo, and I'll tell you why.

It's to ask my father to give me the Oshi fief.

If I annex Oshi to Tatebayashi, I'll triple my income.

Gyobu!

I'm going to Edo.