Drunken Angel: The Criterion Collection (DVD)

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"Drunken Angel" was Kurosawa´s seventh feature-length film, and probably the first film that marked him as a director on the rise though he wouldn´t officially "break out" until "Stray Dog" (1949) and especially "Rashomon" (1950). Mifune also had to wait a few years for "Rashomon" before becoming one of the most famous Japanese actors in the world.

Video

The film is presented in its original 1.33:1 full-screen aspect ratio. Like most recent Criterion full-screen releases, the image is picture-boxed, meaning some viewers will see thin black bars on the left and right side of the screen. The transfer shows more signs of wear and tear than the usual Criterion offering, but the source prints for "Drunken Angel" were likely not preserved in pristine condition. The restored transfer is definitely cleaned up quite a bit, and there´s little doubt that the film looks better here than since the day it was first projected.

Audio

The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Mono. Optional English subtitles support the audio.

Extras

The DVD only offers a few extras, but they´re pretty substantive ones.

I have joked before that every time Criterion releases a Japanese film, they feel obliged to trot out Donald Richie for the commentary track. Fortunately, this is a win-win situation for everyone involved since Richie´s commentary tracks invariably provide not only in-depth knowledge but also essential cultural context for each film. In this case, Richie´s track is more insightful even than his usual because he was actually on the set of "Drunken Angel" sixty years ago! Incredible. This is one of the most enjoyable commentary tracks I have listened to all year.

Also included is another excerpt (31 min) from the Toho Masterworks series called "Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create." This section of the series deals, of course, with "Drunken Angel."

Another enlightening feature is "Kurosawa and the Censors." This 25-minute interview with Danish scholar Lars Martin-Sorensen takes an in-depth look at the ways in which Kurosawa dealt with the American censorship board. In 1947, the occupation force would not allow any Japanese film to reflect poorly on American forces or even to show the devastation of post-war Japan. Martin-Sorensen uses primary sources to trace the history of "Drunken Angel" from its initial drafts to the version eventually approved by censors.

The 28-page insert booklet includes an essay by cultural historian Ian Buruma, and two chapters from Kurosawa´s 1983 book "Something Like An Autobiography."

Film Value

"Drunken Angel" isn´t one of Kurosawa´s greatest works, but it is still a well-crafted gangster film that distinguishes itself from other genre pictures by focusing on the unusual central relationship between criminal and doctor. For most fans, the primary interest in the film is to see Mifune in his first ever performance for Kurosawa (and only his second lead role on film.) He doesn´t disappoint in the slightest. Mifune was a natural from the instant he stepped in front of a camera.

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