One of a number of films that Akira Kurosawa made in the 1950s and which have become classics, <i>Throne of Blood</i> is the director's adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, set in feudal Japan but showing that lust for power is a perennial feature of human society. Washizu (the Macbeth character, Toshiro Mifune) is a soldier serving the lord of Spiders-Web Castle. While riding through a forest with his comrade and childhood friend Miki (the Banquo character, Minoru Chiaki), they come upon a forest spirit that foretells an elevation in rank for the two, and eventually Washizu's reign over…
Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.
- Status
- Released
- Original Title
- 蜘蛛巣城
- Original Language
- Japanese
- Production
- TOHO, Kurosawa Production
- Box Office
- $13K
Link copied!
Cast
Toshirō MifuneTaketoki Washizu
Isuzu YamadaLady Asaji Washizu
Takashi ShimuraNoriyasu Odagura
Akira KuboYoshiteru Miki
Hiroshi TachikawaKunimaru Tsuzuki
Minoru ChiakiYoshiaki Miki
Takamaru SasakiKuniharu Tsuzuki
Gen ShimizuWashizu samurai
Kokuten KōdōMilitary Commander
Kichijirō UedaWashizu's workman
Eiko MiyoshiOld Woman at castle
Chieko NaniwaOld Ghost WomanMedia
Official Trailer
User Reviews
I think that this is a superb tragi-adventure story that stands out well amongst the numerous loose adaptations of Shakespeare that have been made over the years. Kurosawa takes the Scottish play and gives it the "Noh" treatment that delivers an enigmatic and tautly directed rendition of a story of betrayal, power and insanity. Toshirô Mifune is magnificent as "Washizu" who after getting lost with his colleague (Minoru Chiaki) in the doleful "Spider's Web" forest is given a cryptic prophecy that one day he too is destined to rule the great "Spider's Web castle"... Initially reluctant to…
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Throne of Blood (1957) for free?
You can stream the full Throne of Blood movie (1957) right here on FlixWow in HD, completely free. No subscription, no signup, nothing to install.
What is Throne of Blood about?
Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Directo…
Who stars in Throne of Blood?
The movie stars Toshirō Mifune, Isuzu Yamada, Takashi Shimura, Akira Kubo, Hiroshi Tachikawa and more.
When was Throne of Blood released?
Throne of Blood was released in 1957 and is streaming free on FlixWow.
Is Throne of Blood worth watching?
Throne of Blood holds a rating of 7.9/10 from viewer votes (1,015 ratings). Watch it free on FlixWow and judge for yourself.