Hidden Fortress vs Star Wars

The Hidden Fortress (1958) directed by Akira Kurosawa compared with plot elements of Star Wars (1977) directed by George Lucas.

These are broad thematic comparisons and do not take into account the dozens of visual shots duplicated from The Hidden Fortress in Star Wars, such as; the heroes gazing at a far off settlement from a cliff, the princess reclined in confined quarters awaiting an uncertain fate, the low angle desert shots, the descent down palace stairs, or the repeated wipes used for scene transitions.

Even musical cues that accompany the characters were kept almost intact from the period piece to the space opera.

The influence of the original is undeniable, but the resulting epic straddles the line between being a devoted homage to a meticulous pioneer of cinema, and an obsessive passion project elaborately draped over a forgotten classic.

「一生懸命作ったものは一生懸命見てもらえる」 黒澤明

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