The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail

(1952)

★ 6.7 IMDb · 104 votes

Genres: Drama, History, Adventure

Year: 1952

Runtime: 59 мин

Country: Japan

Director: Акира Куросава

Cast: 大河内傳次郎, 藤田進, 榎本健一, Масаюки Мори, Такаси Симура, 河野秋武, 小杉義男, 横尾泥海男, 十代目 岩井半四郎, 久松保夫

Plot

A fugitive lord and his six retainers disguise themselves as monks to bluff their way through a hostile checkpoint.

In 1185, the Heike family fights against the Minamoto family. After a bloody naval battle in the Pacific Ocean, Yoshitsune Minamoto defeats the enemy and the survivals commit suicide. When the triumphant Yoshitsune arrives in Kyoto, his brother, the Shogun Yoritomo, is lured and orders his men to arrest Yoshitsune. However, Yoshitsune escapes with six loyal samurais led by Benkei and they head to the country of his only friend Idehira Fukiwara. Nearby the border, after crossing the forest disguised as monks, their smiley conveyor Suruga discloses that they are Yoshitsune and the six samurais and advises that the fearful Kagiwara and his soldiers are waiting for them in the border to arrest them. Yoshitsune disguises as a carrier and Benkei has to convince Kagiwara that they are six monks traveling to collect donation to build a large temple in Kyoto.