Filmography: p. 244-258.

Includes bibliographical references p. (260-262) and index.

Akira Kurosawa -- Sanshiro Sugata -- Sanshiro Sugata -- The most beautiful -- They who step on the tiger's tail -- No regrets for our youth -- One wonderful Sunday -- Drunken angel -- The quiet duel -- Stray dog -- Scandal -- Rashomon -- The idiot -- Ikiru -- Seven samurai -- Record of a living being -- The throne of blood -- The lower depths -- The hidden fortress -- The bad sleep well -- Yojimbo -- Sanjuro -- High and low -- Red Beard -- Dodesukaden -- Dersu Uzala -- Kagemusha -- Ran -- Dreams -- Rhapsody in August -- Madadayo -- Method, technique and style -- Epilogue.

"In an epilogue provided for his incomparable study of Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998), Donald Richie reflects on Kurosawa's life work of thirty feature films and describes his last, unfinished project, a film set in the Edo period to be called The Ocean Was Watching." "Donald Richie's study is as much a clear introduction for those unfamiliar with Kurosawa's films as it is a bountiful critical appraisal for the initiate. Each film receives thorough, sensitive examination, with many illustrations chosen by the author to underscore his analysis. Excerpts from the scripts, notes on camera usage and sound, reconstructions of outstanding moments - all these contribute insights into the director's powerful technique. In addition, Richie includes many quotes from his conversations with Kurosawa, allowing ideas and biographical information to emerge in the filmmaker's own words."--Jacket.