Red Beard

Movie enthusiasts seeking a profound drama will find the cinematic release Red Beard arriving in theaters on Thursday, March 4, 1965. Distributed by TOHO and Kurosawa Production, this Japanese drama carries a runtime of 3h 5m (185 minutes) and an R age rating in the US. The Japan production was created with an original language of Japanese, a budget of $650,000, and a box office revenue of $1,110,000. On TMDB, the film holds a user rating of 8.2/10 from 431 votes alongside a popularity score of 9.8215, and US audiences can stream it via HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max.

The premise of Red Beard follows aspiring doctor Noboru Yasumoto, who hopes for an easy job as a personal physician to a wealthy family. Instead, his first post after medical school takes him to a small country clinic under the gruff doctor Red Beard. Yasumoto rebels in numerous ways, but Red Beard proves a wise and patient teacher. He gradually introduces his student to the unglamorous side of the profession, ultimately assigning him to care for a prostitute rescued from a local brothel, touching on themes of a doctor, intern, clinic, and rural area.

Helmed by director Akira Kurosawa, the drama was written by Shūgorō Yamamoto, Akira Kurosawa, and Hideo Oguni, with production handled by Ryuzo Kikushima and Tomoyuki Tanaka. The crew also features composer Masaru Satō alongside cinematographers Asakazu Nakai and Takao Saitō. Set against the historical backdrop of the Edo period, the production incorporates elements of jidaigeki and deals with locations such as a lunatic asylum and a brothel while exploring a medical career.

The stellar main cast brings the story to life, featuring Toshirō Mifune as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard") and Yūzō Kayama as Dr. Noboru Yasumoto. Additional performances include Tsutomu Yamazaki as Sahachi, Reiko Dan as Osugi, Miyuki Kuwano as Onaka, Kyōko Kagawa as Madwoman ("The Mantis"), and Tatsuyoshi Ehara as Genzô Tsugawa. The ensemble is rounded out by Terumi Niki as Otoyo, Akemi Negishi as Okuni, Yoshitaka Zushi as Chobo, Yoshio Tsuchiya as Dr. Handayû Mori, and Eijirō Tōno as Goheiji, portraying characters connected by a uniform and the mission to heal in Japan.

Audiences tuning into Red Beard can expect a classic drama experience rooted in the Edo period and jidaigeki traditions of Japan. The cinematic release explores the demanding world of a doctor and an intern navigating a clinic in a rural area, dealing with society's fringes including a lunatic asylum and a brothel. With its strong user rating of 8.2/10 from 431 votes on TMDB and availability on platforms like Criterion Channel and HBO Max, the feature by Akira Kurosawa delivers a compelling narrative about mentorship, healing, and personal transformation.