Director: Akira Kurosawa
Screenwriters: Shinobu Hashimoto, Ryuzo Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni
Producers: Masumi Fujimoto, Akira Kurosawa
Cinematographer: Kazuo Yamasaki

CREDITED CAST OVERVIEW

Tahei: Minoru Chiaki
General Hyoe Tadokoro: Susumu Fujita
Matakishi: Kamatari Fujiwara
The Farmer's Daughter: Toshiko Higuchi
General Rokurota Makabe: Toshirô Mifune
Lady-in-waiting: Eiko Miyoshi
The Old General, Izumi Nagakura: Takashi Shimura
Girl-Dealer: Kichijiro Ueda
Princess Yukihime: Misa Uehara
Soldier: Koji Mitsui
Young Man: Tadao Nakamaru
Young Man: Rinsaku Ogata
Samurai: Shiten Ohashi
Gambler: Ikio Sawamura

Theatrical release: December 28, 1958.

Shot on location at Mount Fuji, Japan.

Disastrous weather marred much of the film's production, causing the 10-day location shoot to go hundreds of days over schedule. However, it ended up doing extremely well upon its release in Japan, proving to be one of Kurosawa's most financially successful films.

THE HIDDEN FORTRESS was director Akira Kurosawa's last film for Toho Studios. After this film, he formed his own production company.

THE HIDDEN FORTRESS was awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

Kurosawa also won the International Film Critics Award for Best Director.

The original version of the movie was 139 minutes. When the film was exported, the running time was cut down to 126 minutes. This Mei Ah version is 136 minutes, including most of the original footage.

"I do not mind dying, Rokurota. I have enjoyed happiness which I could never have known in the castle. I have seen people in their true form, and beauty and ugliness with my own eyes. I thank you, Rokurota. Now I may die without regret."--Princess Yukihime (Misa Uehara) to General Rokurota Makabe (Toshirô Mifune)

"I trust their greed. They will do anything if they are saddled with gold."--General Makabe, regarding the farmers