© 2002 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title: The Hidden Fortress
Japanese Title: Kakushi toride no san akunin
CD Label: Toho Music Corporation
CD Number: AK-0004
Music by: Masaru Satoh
Number of tracks: 65
Running time: 73:02
Number of discs: 1
Year of release/manufacture: 2001

REVIEW

April 07, 2002

The 1958 film, "The Hidden Fortress", is probably one of the funniest of Kurosawa's samurai films and also the one that inspired George Lucas' "Star Wars". Watching this film you can see some of the similarities between the two cowardly farmer/soldier characters in this film and the R2D2 and CP3O parts in "Star Wars". Also the princess in the film has many of the same charcteristics of Princess Leia in "Star Wars".

The music on the disc is fun to listen to but like many of the soundtracks to Kuroswawa films the music works better with the visuals of the movie rather than as stand alone music to listen to. However, there is enough variety on this CD that just listening to the music is not a chore and at times some of the tracks are fun and will grab you.

The Hidden Fortress (Kakushi toride no san akunin)

Track translations courtesy of Jolyon Yates!

  1. Titles
  2. Fallen Warrior's Death
  3. Peaceful Mountain Pass Road
  4. Yamana: Temporary Checkpoint
  5. War Town ~ To the Border
  6. Prisoner's Loss of Dignity
  7. Burnt Ruins of Autumn Moon Castle
  8. Flight
  9. Money!
  10. Mysterious Mountain Man 1
  11. Mysterious Mountain Man 2
  12. Good Idea to go Cross Country
  13. Shining Extended Staff
  14. Road to the Hidden Fortress
  15. Woman on the Summit
  16. Useless Work
  17. Spring Woman
  18. Escaping Woman
  19. Reward Money
  20. Rokurota, to the Cave
  21. Princess Yuki's Tears
  22. Horse & Princess
  23. Riding in the Indicated Direction
  24. Setting Off
  25. Gestured Excuse
  26. Rokurota's Scouting
  27. Reliable Ally 1
  28. Reliable Ally 2
  29. Over the Black Smoke
  30. Bolder Trick
  31. Into the Cheap Lodgings
  32. Autumn Moon Woman
  33. Princess Yuki's Wish
  34. Adept on Horseback
  35. Spear Match
  36. Departing Rokurota
  37. Party's True Shape
  38. Daughter & Rokurota
  39. Sleeping Princess
  40. Line of Firefighters
  41. Surprising Rokurota (unused)
  42. Introduction to Firefighters
  43. Firefighters
  44. Highland Haunting
  45. Going Downhill
  46. Coming to the Same Conclusion
  47. To Hayakawa Territory
  48. Matashichi & Peace, In the Checkpoint
  49. Firefighters' Song
  50. Execution Draws Near
  51. Treasonous Pardon ~ Pass Crossing
  52. Two Bad Men in Prison
  53. Reunion in a Castle
  54. Reward
  55. Ending

    BONUS TRACKS

  56. Castle Town ambient sounds 1
  57. Castle Town ambient sounds 2
  58. Child Song

    BONUS TRACKS: ALTERNATIVE TAKES

  59. Titles (alternative take)
  60. Escaping Woman (alternative take)
  61. Adept on Horseback (alternative take)
  62. Departing Rokurota (alternative take 1)
  63. Departing Rokurota (alternative take 2)
  64. To Hayakawa Territory (alternative take)
  65. Reunion in a Castle (alternative take)